USCIB Updates Archives

USCIB Celebrates Earth Day, Underscores US Business Role in Addressing Global Environmental Challenges 

Published on April 22, 2024

New York, NY, April 22, 2024—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) joins the international community in celebrating Earth Day. USCIB proudly champions environmental protection and responsible business conduct across our members’ operations around the globe. Our member companies are global leaders in the development of advanced technologies and innovation, bringing world-leading technical expertise and resources to address global environmental challenges.  

USCIB also remains a steadfast champion of inclusive multilateralism, which includes the voice of US business within a robust stakeholder engagement process. 

We firmly believe that the global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution can only be overcome through fully inclusive multilateral collaboration and with US private sector know-how and implementation. 

As an official observer to the UN Environment Program (UNEP), the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), USCIB is uniquely positioned to serve as the voice of US business leadership in upcoming negotiations at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Baku and the Convention on Biological Diversity. 

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 Welcomes Release of the US National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct 

Published on March 25, 2024

New York, NY, March 25, 2024—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) welcomes the release of the U.S. National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct (NAP). USCIB also encourages other governments around the world to implement their own NAPs to ensure that progress on human rights remains a global priority.   

Simultaneously, and as a key deliverable to the NAP, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a $2M grant to the International Labour Organization, to strengthen global social compliance systems and to combat forced labor in supply chains. 

USCIB has been providing consultations on the NAP since 2015 and hosted the first public consultation alongside global partners and other major business organizations. Also, in 2022, USCIB submitted comprehensive comments for the 2024 NAP version and organized a briefing for members with the State Department.  

“When done well, NAPs can help companies implement their responsibility to respect human rights, both within their own operations and those of their business partners,” said Ewa Staworzynska, USCIB director for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs. 

The U.S. State Department will host an event on March 25, titled “U.S. Leadership on Responsible Business: The Launch of the U.S. Government’s National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct.” The event will feature discussions around key priorities addressed in the NAP, including strengthening access to remedy and protecting workers’ rights, as well as a discussion on government approaches to strengthening business respect for human rights and responsible business conduct more broadly. USCIB President and CEO Whitney Baird will be on a panel during the event, joining representatives from Oxfam, DHS and Simpson Thacher. 

The launch event will feature keynote remarks by Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez.  It will also include a panel discussion with other U.S. senior officials from across government, including from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Treasury, Department of Labor, Department of State, and other stakeholders involved in the NAP process. 

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 our economy, with operations in every region of the world. As the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers and Business at OECD (BIAC), USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.  

USCIB Celebrates International Women’s Day and Joins UN in Calling for Continued Investment in Women 

Published on March 8, 2024

New York, NY, March 8, 2024 — The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) celebrates International Women’s Day. USCIB also welcomes the United Nations’ 2024 theme of “Invest in women: Accelerate progress” and believes that investment in women is a human rights imperative.  

USCIB and its members have long championed the critical role of gender equality, support for female change-makers and implementation of gender-responsive financing. USCIB is also proud to be led by Whitney Baird, the first female President and CEO in the organization’s 79-year history, as of September 2023. 

“Through our engagement in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and Business at OECD (BIAC), we will continue to work with our business counterparts around the world to address gender equality barriers that continue to confront women and girls and to accelerate progress for women everywhere through adequate investment and effective policies,” said USCIB Director for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Ewa Staworzynska. 

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 our economy, with operations in every region of the world. As the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers and Business at OECD (BIAC), USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org. 

USCIB Advocates for US Business Interests at OECD Responsible Business Conduct Events in Paris

Published on March 6, 2024
Jose Arroyo

The OECD hosted its annual Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector late last month, along with a series of side events on responsible business conduct (RBC) workstreams. This year’s OECD Forum addressed various issues, with a particular focus on living wages and binding company-union agreements in due diligence processes.

In recent years, the OECD has intensified its work in RBC standards and guidance for companies. USCIB, with its in-person engagements and partnership with Business at OECD (BIAC), advocates to ensure that those workstreams, especially those closely related to labor affairs, are consistent with parallel initiatives in other international agencies, such as the International Labor Organization (ILO).

“It is critical that the OECD ensures that new standards are implementable on the ground,” said Jose Arroyo, policy manager for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs at USCIB, who represented U.S. business at the OECD. Arroyo underscored the pioneering role of U.S. businesses in RBC practices and emphasized the importance of clear, concise, and implementable guidance for business. Some of the OECD work includes guidance on responsible purchasing practices and meaningful engagement with workers via due diligence.

Arroyo emphasized the importance of OECD cooperation with other non-OECD countries, particularly in high-risk geographical zones where divestment risks are prevalent. “Meaningful cooperation and implementable standards are essential, ultimately benefiting local communities”, he said.

USCIB will maintain its strong engagement with OECD RBC workstreams.

 

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

Published on February 27, 2024

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).

Cross-Atlantic Social Partners Convene to Discuss Jobs for a Green Transition 

Published on February 14, 2024
Ewa Staworzynska (USCIB)

The EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council (TCC) held a workshop of the Transatlantic Initiative for Sustainable Trade (TIST), titled “Promotion of Good Quality Jobs for a Successful, Just and Inclusive Green Economy,” in Washington DC on January 30. The workshop focused on the promotion of good quality jobs for a successful, just and inclusive green transition. Organizations such as the the International Labor Organization (ILO), Business Europe, AFL-CIO, the European Trade Union Confederation and government agencies from both sides of the Atlantic provided perspectives during the meeting. 

USCIB Director for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Ewa Staworzynska gave remarks at the workshop, alongside USCIB members Lisa Schroeter (Dow) and Josh Connelly (LinkedIn). Connelly provided relevant data on workforce skilling and the gender gap, highlighting that women are disproportionally impacted by the green transition, due to the lack of parity in the market, especially in the green sector. 

Staworzynska spoke on the issue of supply chain transparency in the context of the green transition, underscoring that supply chain traceability is extremely complex, especially in higher tiers. “American companies have championed supply chain improvements globally, and we count on the U.S. government and the European Union to help sourcing countries tackle root causes of labor risks, such as poverty and informality,” she said. Staworzynska further highlighted that the just transition policies must take into account the realities faced by companies globally in order to be effective. 

“USCIB has had a longstanding engagement at the TCC,” said Staworzynska. “We look forward to highlighting the important work of our members, such as LinkedIn and Dow, and working with the EU and the U.S. to ensure a just and inclusive green transition.” 

Business Provides Input Into Global Forum on Migration and Development

Published on February 7, 2024
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.

Celebrating International Day of Women in Multilateralism

Published on January 25, 2024

New York, N.Y., January 25, 2024—Today, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) celebrates International Day of Women in Multilateralism.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) formally adopted and declared January 25 as International Day of Women in Multilateralism in 2021. According to ECOSOC, the purpose of this day is to recognize the essential role played by women in the promotion of human rights, peace and sustainable development within the multilateral system. The day advocates for increased representation of women in key decision-making positions that shape and implement multilateral agendas and for ensuring that multilateralism works for women and girls through gender transformative actions and agreements.

“Truly a day to mark,” said USCIB Senior Vice President Norine Kennedy. “I’m so proud to work with my USCIB colleagues to promote American business views throughout the multilateral system and to support inclusive multilateralism.”

USCIB and IOE Host “Getting Business on Board for the 2024 UN Summit of the Future” 

Published on December 12, 2023

USCIB and the International Organization of Employers (IOE) co-hosted a webinar, “Getting Business on Board for the 2024 UN Summit of the Future,” on December 4. The webinar spotlighted expectations for the 2024 UN Summit for the Future (SOTF) and discussed ways in which the private sector could participate and impact the preparations and outcomes. 

The event was headlined by Ambassador Paula Narváez, president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) and permanent representative of Chile to the UN. Participants also heard from USCIB Senior Vice President for Policy and Global Strategy Norine Kennedy, who presented USCIB’s two Moving the Needle reports that were published during the UN General Assembly in September. 

A panel on “What to expect and how to come prepared for the Summit of the Future” discussed private sector priorities in the coming year of deliberations. The panel also highlighted the growing role that small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) play – and will continue to play – in the economy and global trade. 

“Unless we address the issues of good governance, accountability and oversight, we’re going to find it difficult to mobilize private and public funding to finance SMEs, which are the backbone of so many economies,” stated Shea Gopaul, permanent representative to the UN in New York for the IOE. 

Other speakers included: 

  • Michael Pan, program management officer, ‘Our Common Agenda’, Executive Office of the Secretary General   
  • Angus Rennie, partnerships manager, United Nations Global Compact   
  • Ilze Melngailis, senior director, Business Council for the UN and Private Sector Engagement at the UN Foundation  
  • Patricia Veringa-Gieskes, president, Federation of Employers of Congo (FEC) 

This webinar was the first in a series that will continue to engage with UN representatives and key government delegations to inform the formation of the SOTF and its outcomes. 

USCIB Celebrates 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Published on December 10, 2023

New York, N.Y., December 10, 2023—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) stands with the international community and the United Nations in commemorating the 75th anniversary of the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). On this Human Rights Day, USCIB wishes to celebrate all the work on human rights that has been done through collaboration by businesses, governments and multilateral organizations around the globe.

The UDHR set forth, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected, and its adoption was the largest milestone in the history of human rights. USCIB welcomes the UN’s 2023 Human Rights Day theme of “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All,” and, while progress has been made, more needs to be done to realize human rights globally. 12 years ago, the UN adopted the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which provide a clear framework to do exactly that.

The U.S. business community is firmly committed to the Guiding Principles and hopes to see them implemented by States globally. Only a handful of countries have implemented National Action Plans and more needs to be done to improve the human rights situation in countries where structural challenges, lack of rule of law and poor governance remain as fundamental obstacles.

“Today’s celebration of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration of Human Rights is an important reminder that the global community still has a lot of work to do to realize human rights,” said USCIB Director for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Ewa Staworzynska. “Governments across the world must protect human rights and businesses should respect human rights. Progress can only be achieved if we work together, and American companies are committed to doing so.”

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 the leading international business organizations, and as the sole U.S. business group with standing in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.