Director International Tax Policy and Banking

Position: Director International Tax Policy and Banking
Organization: United States Council for International Business
Reports to: Vice President & International Tax Counsel
Location: Washington D.C.

THE OPPORTUNITY – About USCIB

Founded in 1945, USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development, and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence.  Its focus is on international policy in the multilateral system, and its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector, with operations in every region of the world. As the sole American representative of the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, USCIB provides business views to the Administration and to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade and investment. In addition, USCIB serves as the National Guaranteeing Association for ATA Carnets, which allows temporary, tax and duty-free imports overseas for trade shows, commercial samples and professional equipment. More at www.uscib.org

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director International Tax Policy and Banking will support the Vice President & International Tax Counsel on a variety of programs and projects involving the development and dissemination of USCIB tax policy positions, papers and meeting preparation and materials. The Director will support USCIB member engagement and development for the organization’s Tax committee and have the possibility to lead in defined international tax policy areas with the potential to expand responsibilities in the course of the role.  The Director will also oversee and manage the Banking Committee.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead policy expert and work product drafter on U.S. Congress, U.N., single country and developing countries portfolios. Support VP on OECD and U.S. government, and European (member state and European commission) tax policy portfolios.
  • Prepare and participate in internal USCIB planning meetings, webinars, Tax Committee meetings and events, and the annual OECD international tax conference.
  • Work with the Tax Committee leadership team and member companies to understand their tax policy needs and develop policy positions that support their interests.
  • Monitor and analyze tax policies and legislation in respective portfolios.
  • Conduct research and analysis to identify emerging tax policy issues and opportunities for advocacy.
  • Oversee and manage USCIB Banking Committee, working with committee leadership to engage with ICC Banking Commission and related partner organizations.
  • Support Banking Committee member priorities, including those regarding digitization of trade finance and promoting standardization of international banking and commercial practices.
  • Represent USCIB before government officials, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to promote our members’ interests and the growth of international business.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, business leaders, and advocacy groups.
  • Assist the membership department in new member and retention efforts by identifying potential new members, setting goals for annual recruitment, and nurturing relationships with existing members.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

  • Advanced degree (e.g., JD) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • 10 years of experience in international tax and/or international tax policy in the public and/or private sector, U.S. Congress, U.S. government, Big Four accounting or law firm or other advocacy organization. Demonstrated knowledge of global frameworks and institutions that influence the development of international tax policy. Some banking regulatory experience required.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple projects against tight deadlines as well as work collaboratively in team settings.
  • Superior time-management skills with respect to setting priorities and managing multiple workflows against tight deadlines.
  • Strong written communication and advocacy skills.
  • International work experience and foreign language skills preferred.
  • Some international travel required.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary and title are commensurate with qualifications and experience. The salary range for this role is between $150,000 and $175,000 per year. USCIB offers a highly competitive compensation package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k)-retirement company matching program, generous paid time off, and the ability to participate in pre-tax transportation/commuter benefit and flexible spending account programs.

USCIB currently requires in-office work Tuesday – Thursday, with WFH option on Mondays and Fridays.

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Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Thank you for your understanding.

USCIB Hosts ICC ATA Carnet Administrative Committee Meeting 

Last week, USCIB hosted the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) World Chambers Federation (WCF) ATA Carnet Administrative Committee (ATAC) in New York.

Chaired by USCIB Chief Operating Officer Declan Daly and Henk Wit (Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK), the discussions revolved around important topics such as the 2024 ATA Carnet work plan, preparation for the global transition of e-ATA (digital ATA Carnet), ATAC composition, global issuing and claims statistics, new members’ accession, and ATA Carnet administration.  

This biannual meeting gathered participants from 13 national guaranteeing associations. 

“USCIB was delighted to host this year’s spring ATAC meeting at USCIB’s NY office, particularly since it has been nearly a decade since we held a U.S.-based meeting,” said Daly. “I look forward to this year’s work plan and the exciting milestones we have already achieved this year, namely the first ever test processing of a digital ATA Carnet last month at JFK.” 

Last month, USCIB helped coordinate a highly successful U.S. digital ATA Carnet (e-ATA) test processing at John F. Kennedy Airport in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Roanoke Insurance Group Inc. and Rock-it Cargo. This first e-ATA test in the United States was done in conjunction with the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) and UK Customs (HMRC), which processed the e-ATA for import at London’s Heathrow airport. 

The 13th WTO Ministerial Conference Falls Short But Delivers Some Wins for Industry

Renewal of e-commerce moratorium and intellectual property rights secured

New York, N.Y., March 04, 2024—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) welcomes outcomes from the WTO 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi on two key objectives for U.S. industry: a two-year extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions and a rejection of efforts to waive intellectual property protections for COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics.

“If the moratorium had expired it would have been an historic setback, representing an unprecedented termination of a multilateral agreement that has allowed the digital economy to take root and grow over the past 25 years,” said President and CEO Whitney Baird who represented USCIB at the ministerial last week. “USCIB is similarly pleased that the WTO failed to extend a TRIPS waiver to diagnostics and therapeutics, a move that would have undermined innovative industries, global health security and international rule of law.”

Another positive outcome, according to Baird, 72 nations officially adopted the Joint Statement Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation, simplifying rules for over 90 percent of the world’s trade in services. USCIB joined the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), for which it serves as the U.S. national committee, in welcoming the move. The agreement text had been concluded in December 2021. USCIB also hails progress at the WTO mapping out linkages and exploring best practices in consultation with industry on trade related aspects of circularity, climate, plastics and other policies aimed at advancing sustainability goals.

The outcomes in Abu Dhabi were mixed, however. USCIB is disappointed that MC13 failed to deliver agreements on agriculture, dispute settlement and fisheries, adding uncertainty to a multilateral trading system already under intense strain. “USCIB looks forward to working with the WTO to deliver outcomes in these sectors favorable to U.S. industry,” said Baird. “As the cornerstone for open, fair and reliable global trade, the WTO is too important to industry to fail.”

USCIB was on the ground in Abu Dhabi with a strong showing of member companies and the ICC, promoting robust digital and innovation safeguards, U.S. leadership on disciplines for sustainable trade, and enhanced roles for plurilateral negotiations and stakeholder engagement at the WTO.

About USCIB
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence.  Its members include U.S. based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, with operations in every region of the world, generating $5 trillion in annual revenues and employing over 11 million workers worldwide. As the U.S. affiliate to several leading international business organizations, including the ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade and development. More at  www.uscib.org.

USCIB Issues 2024 Priorities and Recommendations for APEC

USCIB has issued this year’s priorities and recommendations that USCIB and its members would like to see advanced in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). This annual priorities document reflects critical issue areas across USCIB’s primary workstreams related to APEC. USCIB has always been a longstanding and steadfast contributor to APEC workstreams and stands ready to provide business inputs to advance APEC goals and objectives for 2024 and beyond.   

APEC also reflects USCIB’s longstanding and guiding objectives of promoting open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence.  

“USCIB values the committed partnerships that APEC has established with the private sector to address the many economic opportunities available to foster greater integration between APEC’s member economies,” said USCIB Senior Vice President for Trade, Investment and Digital Policy Alice Slayton Clark. 

“We laud the excellent work accomplished during the 2023 U.S. APEC host year and look forward to an equally productive 2024, exploring new topics for outcomes and deliverables as Peru takes the helm,” added Clark.  

Baird Contributes to Business at OECD’s Consultation With OECD Leadership

USCIB President and CEO Whitney Baird

USCIB President and CEO Whitney Baird joined business leaders from Business at OECD’s (BIAC) expansive global network for BIAC’s Annual Consultation with OECD leadership and ambassadors in Paris. The theme for this year’s consultation was Charting the Course for Competitiveness, urging the OECD to reinforce the competitiveness of market-based democracies.

Baird served as a business speaker on a discussion around inspiring a better future globally.

“In an increasingly geopolitical setting, business looks to the OECD and member governments for meaningful cooperation, pragmatic diplomacy, and effective inclusive multilateralism,” she said.

Rick Johnston

BIAC Chair Rick Johnston (Citigroup), who also serves on the USCIB Board and chairs USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee, led the delegation. Johnston also underscored BIAC priorities for OECD policymaking, stressing the need for the OECD to put a clearer spotlight on the cost and ease of doing business in its member countries.

According to BIAC, this strategic engagement at the outset of the year sets the tone for follow-up business advocacy with the OECD and its 38 Member States; BIAC is now preparing for the annual OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in May, which will be chaired by Japan.

USCIB Supports First-Ever Multilateral Agreement on “Living Wage”

New York, NY, February 27, 2024–This weekend, the International Labor Organization (ILO), the UN entity responsible for setting international labor standards, reached the first-in-history multilateral agreement on the concept of a “living wage.” The alignment on the concept, negotiated between workers, employers and governments, was part of the outcome of a week-long expert meeting on wage policies, including living wages.

In recent years, there has been a rise in political pressures on ensuring wage levels that can ensure a decent standard of living and an increase in living wage initiatives and consulting firms, claiming to help companies set correct wage levels. Yet, as reported by the ILO, such initiatives have largely been ignoring the second pillar of wage-setting, namely economic factors. The expert meeting provided clarity on this and underscored that a wage-setting process must take into account both the needs of workers and economic factors.

“We are proud to have reached multilateral alignment on the concept of a ‘living wage,’” said Ewa Staworzynska, director of corporate responsibility and labor affairs at USCIB, who represented American business during the expert meeting, together with Ryan Larsen, group director, international labor relations at Walmart. “In order to set sustainable wages and not disrupt employment levels, it is critical that wage-setting processes couple the estimates of needs of workers with economic factors, such as macroeconomic stability and productivity levels.”

The full conclusions, including the ILO’s description of the concept, is expected to be published in the coming days.

About USCIB
The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) advances the global interests of American business. We do so through advocacy for an open system of world trade, finance, and investment, where business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare, and environmental protection. We are the sole U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Business at OECD (BIAC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE). USCIB is also the only U.S. business organization with standing at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and is recognized at the UN Environment Program (UNEP), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD).

USCIB Meets with OECD to Share US Industry Accession Priorities 

USCIB organized a member briefing on February 14 with OECD officials to discuss the accession process and to share USCIB Members’ market access concerns regarding the five accession candidates: Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Peru and Romania. USCIB also shared with the OECD officials an updated business priorities document, detailing industry concerns for each of the accession candidates. 

Members learned that the candidacies of Croatia, Bulgaria, Peru and Romania are most advance as they consider the accession process a national priority. According to USCIB Senior Vice President for Trade, Investment and Digital Policy Alice Slayton Clark, Brazil is taking a more cautious position, setting up a working group on OECD matters to determine how to approach accession. Interestingly, the new administration of Javier Milei in Argentina seems committed to moving forward with adoption of a roadmap for accession after putting the invitation on pause for the past two years. Finally, Thailand has requested to accede, and the OECD announced this week it is opening accession talks with Indonesia, a process that will take many years.     

It was made clear during this meeting that OECD accession provides powerful leverage for adoption of reforms in candidate countries, an opportunity for industry to resolve market access concerns. It is imperative to act early in this regard and provide detailed input that can be incorporated into market openness reports used to measure candidate country readiness.  

One main area of concern raised during the discussion was candidate country positioning on the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, a question that will be considered at next week’s World Trade Organization (WTO) 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi. USCIB urged that all OECD members and accession candidates fully support the moratorium to be in alignment with OECD research, principles and best practices. 

Click here to download USCIB’s OECD Accession Priorities document. 

USCIB Adopts a Comprehensive Strategy to Renew the WTO E-Commerce Moratorium   

Ahead of the World Trade Organization (WTO) 13th Ministerial Council (MC13) next week, USCIB has been advocating extensively to extend the WTO moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions.  

Among these efforts, as reported by Inside US Trade, was a multi-association letter signed by USCIB President and CEO Whitney Baird, along with the presidents and CEOs of other associations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The letter was sent to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, National Security Council’s Jacob J. Sullivan and National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard. 

USCIB also signed a Global Industry Statement urging the WTO to support the continuation of the Moratorium at MC13. The Statement, comprised of nearly 200 groups from more than 20 sectors in 130 countries, was covered by Politico. 

A few WTO members, such as India, Indonesia and South Africa, are threatening to block renewal of the moratorium for policy and political purposes. As such, USCIB joined several industry coalition letters to key government officials in these countries expressing concern about the potential collapse of this longstanding multilateral agreement and how it would negatively impact trade and investment in these economies.   

The letters argue that the moratorium is essential to the interests of millions of local enterprises and workers. The economic studies that analyze the potential impacts of customs duties show that countries hurt themselves by raising barriers and increasing costs for a wide variety of enterprises to access knowledge, information, data, and digital tools needed to compete in the global marketplace. 

For India, customs restrictions on the Internet are at odds with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a $1 trillion “Digital India” economy. In fact, such restrictions could well cause India’s digital economy to shrink rather than grow given its large share of software development and global data processing activity. If India imposes customs duties on inbound data transfers – coupled with restrictions on outbound data transfers proposed under various other measures – India will isolate itself from the world. 

USCIB President and CEO Whitney Baird and USCIB Senior VP Alice Slayton Clark will be at MC13 in Abu Dhabi next week, where this topic will be a top priority. 

“Allowing the moratorium to expire would be a historic setback for the WTO, representing an unprecedented termination of a multilateral agreement in place nearly since the WTO’s inception – an agreement that has allowed the digital economy to take root and grow,” said Clark. “It risks destabilizing the very fabric of a multilateral trading system already under intense strain.” 

USCIB Helps Facilitate First Digital ATA Carnet at JFK Airport

New York, N.Y., February 21, 2024—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), the National Guaranteeing Association (NGA) and Issuing Association for the ATA Carnet (aka the “Passport for Goods®”) in the U.S., has facilitated the first ever U.S. digital ATA Carnet (e-ATA) test processing at John F. Kennedy Airport in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Roanoke Insurance Group Inc. and Rock-it Cargo. The test will also be done in conjunction with the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) and UK Customs (HMRC), processing the e-ATA for import at London’s Heathrow airport.

“We’re thrilled to launch the official test-phase for e-ATA Carnet processing in the United States,” said USCIB Chief Operating Officer Declan Daly. “With the help of our partners, including CBP, the International Chamber of Commerce World Chamber Federation (ICC WCF), Roanoke, one of our service providers, and Rock-it, we’ve taken a crucial and exciting first step to finally bring the ATA Carnet into the 21st century.”

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is honored to collaborate with the U.S. Council for International Business and our counterparts in the United Kingdom on this first test of a digital ATA Carnet,” said Francis J. Russo, director of CBP’s New York Field Operations. “Carnets have long been an effective method to control and release materials that are temporarily imported.  Digitizing the process to align with modern technical capabilities will make it far more efficient than continuing to rely on paper,” added Russo.

The test processing was conducted ahead of the TPi Awards Ceremony in London, England, which will be held on February 26th. The Ceremony is the live events industry’s largest celebration, recognizing the feats achieved in the world of live touring in the past 12 months. USCIB selected Rock-it Cargo to participate in the e-ATA Carnet testing phase due to the nature of Rock-it’s business and because Rock-it Cargo is one of the largest ATA Carnet users in the U.S. Rock-it Cargo is a white glove, time critical, freight forwarder focused on live entertainment and TV production, which are highly dependent on ATA Carnets to ensure the show goes on.

Declan Daly (USCIB) and Amanda Barlow (Rock-it Cargo) with the TPi Awards microphones

According to Daly, TPi, Sennheiser and Rock-it Cargo have co-sponsored two bespoke microphones for use during the award ceremony. These microphones were decorated by Perry Meeks, a costume designer with whom Rock-it has worked on many live entertainment tours. The microphones will be hand-carried by Rock-it to the United Kingdom using the first U.S. issued e-ATA Carnet to enter them into the UK for the awards ceremony and then returned to the U.S. post show.

“It’s great that HMRC is at the forefront of piloting digital Carnets alongside our counterparts in the USA, and we’re really pleased to enable the first digital carnet movement between the two countries,” said Sally Beggs, deputy director for Customs Policy and Strategy at HM Revenue and Customs in the UK.

Davor A. McKinley, head of ATA Carnets and Compliance, UK National ATA Carnet Organization (UKNATACO) added, “UKNATACO is delighted that United States Council for International Business (USCIB) chose United Kingdom as the destination for their first ever digital Carnet. This clearly highlights the close working relationship between the two countries and demonstrates that digitalising ATA Carnets will play a pivotal role in strengthening our mutual trade further.”

USCIB has appointed two independent Carnet Service Providers to issue ATA Carnets: Boomerang Carnets and Roanoke Insurance Group Inc.

The ATA Carnet is a unified international Customs document that permits duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods into over 100 countries and customs territories for up to one year. Annually, the global system issues close to 200,000 ATA Carnets for goods valued at over $25 billion dollars. The e-ATA Carnet (aka digital ATA Carnet), which was first developed by ICC WCF in 2016 and is supported by the WCO (World Customs Organization), aims to digitize ATA Carnets and their lifecycle management process – from issuance and declarations to transactions and claims.

About USCIB
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms with operations in every region of the world. As the U.S. affiliate of leading international business organizations (such as the International Chamber of Commerce, International Organization of Employers and Business at OECD) and as the only U.S. multi-sectoral advocacy group with standing in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade and investment. USCIB is also the National Guaranteeing and Issuing Association for ATA Carnet in the United States, having been appointed as such by the Department of Treasury Bureau of Customs, now U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in 1969. USCIB has two authorized service providers who issue ATA Carnet—Boomerang Carnet and Roanoke Insurance Group Inc. More at  www.uscib.org.

Business Provides Input Into Global Forum on Migration and Development

Left to right: Laura McElroy (McDonalds) and Ronnie Goldberg (USCIB)

Business played a prominent role at the 14th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Summit, held in Geneva from January 23-25 under the chairmanship of the government of France. USCIB staff and members were well represented among more than 1,000 delegates, including governments from 150 countries, who met to exchange best practices on migration governance.

The 60-strong private sector delegation was organized by the Business Mechanism to the GFMD, which is housed in the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and chaired by Austin Fragomen (Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy).  USCIB members from Deloitte, Oracle, McDonalds, Meta and SHRM, as well as USCIB Senior Counsel Ronnie Goldberg, serve on the Business Mechanism’s Executive Board and participated in the Summit’s roundtable sessions.

According to Goldberg, during the Summit, USCIB and its members advocated for migration pathways to bring talent to fill skills gaps, particularly as they relate to green skills, legal frameworks for responsible recruitment, harmonization of skills recognition systems, better use of technology to encourage innovation and improve migration systems and a public narrative based on facts and economic impacts.

In addition, the Business Mechanism staged a Start Up competition for innovative migration-related applications and contributed substantive papers on Green Borders: Climate Change and Business Mobility, Digital Nomads and Hybrid Work, and Engaging with Employers in Skills Mobility Partnerships.

The GFMD chair has now been assumed by the Government of Colombia.