Policy Areas Archives

USCIB Leads Discussion on Responsible Business Conduct at International Human Rights Conference

Published on April 24, 2024
Ewa Staworzynska at International Human Rights Conference

140 companies gathered this week for the annual International Human Rights Conference hosted by the International Organization of Employers (IOE), DHL Group, and the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) in Bonn, Germany. USCIB Director for Corporate Responsibility Ewa Staworzynska led the discussion on April 24 in her capacity as chair of the IOE Policy Working Group on Business and Human Rights (BHR) and Responsible Business Conduct (RBC).

Staworzynska underscored that the regulations risk causing unintended consequences, such as divestment from developing countries, and may cause potential contradiction with the widely supported UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

“It is clear that companies are facing increased pressure on RBC and it is important that the business community, together with policymakers, discuss the practical implications of such regulation,” said Staworzynska.

L-R: Ewa Staworzynska (USCIB), Renate Hornung-Draus (BDA), and Amb. Abiodun Richards Adejola (Nigeria)

USCIB led the discussion on the extraterritorial impact of recent and forthcoming EU regulations pertaining to RBC. Perspectives were shared from both EU and non-EU countries. Panelists included the Minister of Employment and Social Protection of Côté D’Ivoire and Vice Chair of the Alliance 8.7 Adama Kamara, the UN Permanent Representative of Nigeria and Chair of the ILO Governing Body Ambassador Abiodun Richards Adejola, Managing Director at BDA and Employer Vice Chair at the International Labor Organization (ILO) Renate Hornung-Draus, Vice President and Member of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala, and Member of the European Parliament Axel Voss.

Saudia Arabia and Philippines to Accept ATA Carnets (“Passport for Goods”) This Summer

Published on April 24, 2024

New York, NY, April 24, 2024—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), the national guaranteeing and issuing association for the ATA Carnet in the United States, has announced that both the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia and the Republic of the Philippines have joined the ATA Carnet system. These countries join a growing list of over 80 countries and customs territories that process the ATA Carnet.

ATA Carnets are critical tools of trade facilitation and export promotion. The ATA Carnet is an international customs document that allows duty- and tax-free temporary admission of goods for up to one year.

ATA Carnet operations in Saudia Arabia will begin on June 1, 2024 and include Carnets for use at exhibitions, fairs, meetings, and similar events.

The Philippines will begin accepting Carnets on July 15, 2024. The scope of Carnet acceptance will include exhibitions, fairs, meetings, professional equipment, and commercial samples.

“USCIB is delighted that Saudia Arabia and the Philippines will be joining the ATA Carnet System this summer,” said USCIB Chief Operating Officer Declan Daly. “The Middle East and Southeast Asia are significant markets for USCIB members and we look forward to working with our counterparts—the Federation of Saudi Chambers and the Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry—to expand trade in these regions.”

The global ATA Carnet system is overseen and managed by the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce World Chambers Federation (ICC-WCF). USCIB administers the ATA System in the United States.

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, IOE, and Business at OECD, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade and development.

USCIB is also the National Guaranteeing and Issuing Association for ATA Carnets in the United States, having been appointed as such by the Department of Treasury, now U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in 1969. More at  www.uscib.org.

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.

The USCIB Foundation and Business at OECD Hold Preview Event in Paris on Metaverse Project

Published on April 17, 2024

On the sidelines of the biannual OECD Digital Policy Committee Meeting in Paris, Business at OECD (BIAC) and The USCIB Foundation’s metaverse project team hosted a successful report preview event on April 5. OECD delegates and secretariat, as well as various companies, including USCIB members, attended the preview event. Following the event, BIAC and The USCIB Foundation will launch the report in Washington, DC and organize a webinar with relevant experts to present findings in the report.

The roundtable featured remarks from Business at OECD Deputy Executive Director Nicole Primmer, a presentation of the project and preview of the project report findings from Paula Bruening (Casentino Strategies), and comments from the OECD Secretariat, including OECD Global Forum on Technology Lead Elizabeth Thomas Raynaud and OECD Economist/Policy Analyst on Privacy and Data Governance Christian Reimsbach- Kounatze.

According to USCIB Program and Policy Associate on Digital Issues, Nan Schechter, who attended the event, companies are actively exploring the possibilities of the metaverse, as well as trying to understand the novel privacy risks it may raise and how those risks might be addressed.

“BIAC and The USCIB Foundation undertook this project to explore the privacy issues raised by the metaverse and to develop business-oriented evidence regarding the of the OECD Privacy Guidelines’ applicability in this emerging environment, keeping in mind their two-part objective of protecting privacy and fostering cross border data flows,” said Schechter.  “USCIB is thrilled at the exciting potential and relevance of the report as it emphasizes multistakeholder privacy solutions and the increasing importance to data governance in the metaverse.”

 

USCIB Participates in the First Meeting of the OECD Working Party on Countering Illicit Trade

Published on April 17, 2024
Business at OECD (BIAC) delegation to the OECD

The first Meeting of the Working Party on Countering Illicit (WP-CIT) Trade took place April 4-5 at OECD headquarters in Paris.

USCIB Anti-Illicit Trade Committee (AITC) Chair David Luna (Luna Global Networks), USCIB Senior Director of Customs and Trade Facilitation Megan Giblin, and several USCIB members participated as part of the Business at OECD (BIAC) Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group delegation to WP-CIT. This inaugural meeting was a milestone of the OECD work on countering illicit trade since the WP-CIT was elevated within the organization due to its move from the Governance Directorate (GOV) to the Trade and Agriculture Directorate (TAD) at the OECD.

During the meetings, Luna delivered remarks as Chair of BIAC Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group (AITEG). USCIB member representatives Susan Wilson (Intel), Monica Ramirez (ABinBEV), and Jennifer Lane (Amazon) also provided topic specific remarks on Third Party Litigation Funding (TPLF), trade in illicit alcohol, and existing best practices in the e-commerce space to fight counterfeits and illicit goods, respectively. The USCIB delegation participated actively and joined broader panels on these and other topics.

USCIB’s AITC was established in 2018 to support the work of BIAC and the OECD WP-CIT in this space.

“It was an honor and a privilege to participate in this milestone event of the WP-CIT,” said Giblin.  “The BIAC–OECD public private partnership is an issue of critical interest to BIAC, USCIB, and other BIAC national federations. We look forward to continuing our engagement and collaboration coming out of these recent WP meetings and discussions as we move into 2025, as well as supporting the newly established WP-CIT forum and related work program.”

Giblin also noted there was robust dialogue on TPLF and countering illicit trade across online marketplaces, building on the earlier good work of the informal expert group supported strongly by both BIAC and USCIB. For Giblin, it was a very positive development to learn about the progress related to the OECD Recommendations on enhancing Transparency in Free Trade Zones (FTZ), specifically the commencement of the related FTZ Certification Scheme. This is an important topic for BIAC and USCIB, but also the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which works in collaboration with BIAC on this workstream at the OECD.

As stated by Piotr Stryszowski, senior economist at the OECD, there was a great collaborative spirit in the debate with the business community showing their strong endorsement in the work of the WP-CIT (along with an intervention by John W.H. Denton, ICC Secretary General, supporting the OECD’s Free Trade Zones Recommendation).

USCIB is both the US National Committee of ICC and the US National Federation of BIAC.

USCIB Supports Launch of Blue Dot Network to Strengthen Quality Infrastructure Investment 

Published on April 16, 2024
Whitney Baird at the OECD

USCIB President and CEO Whitney Baird spoke during the April 8-9 launch activities for the Blue Dot Network (BDN), a project certification framework that aims to strengthen quality infrastructure investment. The launch activities included a meeting of the Executive Consultation Group, a Leaders’ Dialogue, and the official launch ceremony.  

BDN will certify projects based on robust standards and criteria in economic, environmental, social, and other areas.  The certification applies to infrastructure projects across all major infrastructure sectors including energy, water and sanitation, transport and ICT. It can accommodate projects at different stages of the life cycle, from planning and preparation to construction and operations. Projects developed under a variety of ownership and delivery models (e.g. traditional procurement, public-private partnerships, privatized) can be certified. 

The Blue Dot Network will be hosted at the OECD, but remain an independent entity overseen by the initiative’s Steering Committee governments, currently Australia, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  

“There is the potential to make BDN a serious game changer in the infrastructure world. But private sector engagement and creativity is absolutely crucial to any success,” said Baird. “It will take all of us – developers, investors, governments, and communities – to make BDN a success, and we are counting on your support. USCIB is happy to be a part of this process.” 

Baird has been a long-time supporter of the BDN, even prior to her current role leading USCIB.  

“As Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Economic Bureau at the US Department of State, I led our BDN team in its work to develop this initiative,” added Baird. “I traveled, literally, all over the world because the US government believed, and I believed personally, that BDN, if done correctly, could answer a real need for a framework to allow project sponsors and public and private financial institutions to identify good infrastructure projects.” 

USCIB was also on hand for the OECD Infrastructure Forum, immediately following the launch. 

Strengthening Transatlantic Business Ties: USCIB Engages with ICC Colleagues in Seville 

Published on April 9, 2024
USCIB’s Jose Arroyo with the group from ICC Europe and ICC Americas

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) facilitated a regional meeting between European and American counterparts in Seville, Spain on April 3. This first-ever joint meeting, organized by ICC Spain and hosted by the Seville Chamber of Commerce, reinforced the historical economic ties between Europe and the Americas. The meeting convened representatives from ICC headquarters in Paris as well as ICC national committees from Europe and the Americas, including USCIB Policy Manager for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Jose Arroyo.  

Arroyo emphasized the need for more collaborative transatlantic efforts to address key business trends and challenges, as well as opportunities for enhanced cooperation to bolster business development, trade facilitation, responsible business conduct, and economic integration across regions. 

“This meeting provided a valuable platform for strengthening engagement and relationships between USCIB and our European and American counterparts,” said Arroyo. “We recognize the significance of advancing collaboration with our fellow national committees.”  

USCIB’s role in the meeting demonstrated its commitment to deepening its partnership with the ICC Americas Group, while reinforcing the integral commercial relations with European partners. Arroyo emphasized the direct implications of policy developments in Europe on American businesses, emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue and collaboration to navigate global market dynamics effectively. 

ICC Secretary General John Denton attended the meeting in person and highlighted ICC’s priorities in supporting business growth and addressing challenges across regions. 

“USCIB looks forward to advancing our collaboration with European colleagues and strengthening our ties with the ICC Americas Group in pursuit of shared objectives and mutual benefits,” added Arroyo. 

Clark Contributes to US-EU Trade and Technology Council Meeting, Urges Stronger Trade Focus

Published on April 9, 2024
Alice Slayton Clark at the TTC in Leuven, Belgium

USCIB Senior Vice President Alice Slayton Clark was on the ground in Leuven, Belgium the week of April 1 for the sixth, and potentially final, US-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting. Following intergovernmental and stakeholder discussions, Ministers issued a joint statement on AI, 6G, emerging technology, semiconductors, online platforms, and upskilling, among others.

USCIB was one of few industry representatives at the stakeholder events because of its position as a principal on the Trade and Labor Dialogue (TALD), where select social partners discuss the intersection of transatlantic trade and labor concerns. “We advised on the future of the TALD as a useful mechanism for bringing social partners together to discuss common concerns, but underscored the importance of more robust stakeholder engagement in the TTC writ large and a stronger trade focus,” states Clark.

Much of the discussion surrounding the TTC focused on how to preserve the dialogue between the US and EU given the importance of building strong supply chains and closer collaboration on emerging policy questions and existing irritants. With uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the 2024 elections, policymakers are looking at ways to institutionalize TTC workstreams so they can endure a change in Administrations. According to Clark, this is significant given ongoing geostrategic challenges and the TTC’s success in aligning US and EU economic and national security policies vis-à-vis Russia and China.

Anti-Illicit Trade

Published on April 9, 2024

WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR BUSINESS

Illicit trade is a serious threat that feeds a booming multi-trillion-dollar global illegal economy and harms every market, puts public health and safety at risk, and upends the rule of law and investment climate. It is a threat multiplier that helps fuel transnational crime, corruption, and greater insecurity and instability around the world. Illicit trade results in:

  • Lost revenue and market share;
  • Intellectual property theft, stolen data, and dis-incentivizes innovation;
  • Job displacement for workers and business closures;
  • Increased costs of doing business overseas;
  • Heightened violence and criminality in some markets; and
  • Diminished brand integrity and market reputational value.
USCIB meets with BIAC AITEG delegation to the OECD Working Party on Countering Illicit Trade (WP-CIT) in Paris.
USCIB Staff and Member with Deputy Assistant Sect. of DHS, Office of Policy, Tasha Reid Hippolyte (Left)

CURRENT PRIORITIES

Objectives

  • Illicit Trade in the COVID-19 Crisis Environment. Click here to visit our dedicated page on COVID-19 for messages from our CEO, press releases, member-driven initiatives, and more.
  • Development of Anti-Illicit Trade Committee (AITC) Plan of Action (POA) and focus on key member brand protection concerns and Anti-Illicit Trade (AIT) issues of interest, provided below in alphabetical order:
    • Engagement of China and other Source Markets of Fakes;
    • Targeted Action on Illicit Trade including Counterfeit and Pirated Goods;
    • AIT Enforcement at Free Trade Zones (FTZs);
    • Strengthening Information sharing across sectors and markets; and
    • Address “small parcels” trade in contraband and illicit commodities.
  • Raising public awareness of newly established AITC at USCIB and its commitment to fight illicit trade with U.S. government agencies and U.S. Congress, private sector and business community, international and intergovernmental organizations, and economies and market stakeholders around the world.
  • Active leadership and engagement in Business at OECD and the Business at OECD Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group (AITEG) and align activities and outcomes.

USCIB AT WORK:

  • At OECD, engage via Business at OECD, on the work of the Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade (TF-CIT) in efforts to address the threats and barriers tied to illicit trade, promoting strategic alliances, and work closely with BIAC and OECD on webinars on illicit trade in the COVID crisis environment.
  • Bridging Partnerships: In APEC, explore possible synergies with OECD and Business at OECD; OECD-APEC collaborations in 2019-2020; and G2B opportunities on fighting illicit trade across markets.
  • At ICC, where relevant, engage in the work of the Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) initiative.
  • In Washington, where we regularly meet with U.S. government officials to educate them on the work of the AITC particularly with the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, Justice, State, and Treasury, White House (National Security Council and Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator), and U.S. National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.

 

FEATURED DOCUMENTS:

WHO WE ARE

The USCIB Anti-Illicit Trade Committee is composed of USCIB member companies representing a range of business and industry sectors. Priorities are determined that reflect a consensus among the members.

The Committee takes a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, approach and public-private partnerships, to elevate the fight against illicit trade, particularly related to the work of the OECD’s TF-CIT, corresponding activity by Business at OECD, and the work of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) initiative.

Mission

The Committee promotes strong international AIT leadership and advocates for a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach to the complex topic of illicit trade including, among others:

  • Business at OECD and Business at OECD Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group (AITEG)
  • OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade (TFCIT), Governance Directorate
  • APEC and in other strategic international fora in advance of USCIB Partnerships
  • U.S. Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, Justice, State, and Treasury, White House (National Security Council and Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator), and U.S. National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

All USCIB members are eligible to participate in the USCIB Anti-Illicit Trade Committee. If you are a member and would like to be added to this committee or if you would like more information on how to become a member, please contact:

Alison Hoiem
Senior Director, Member Services
(202) 682-1291 – ahoiem@uscib.org

USCIB on LinkedIn

Chair

David Luna
President and CEO
Luna Global Networks & Convergence Strategies LLC

Staff

Megan Giblin
Director, Customs & Trade Facilitation
(202) 371-9235 – mgiblin@uscib.org

Staff

Ashley Harrington
Policy & Program Assistant, Washington
202-683-5861 or aharrington@uscib.org

 

Customs and Trade Facilitation

Published on April 9, 2024

Trends and Challenges in Customs:

  • Unnecessary and burdensome barriers to trade can cost companies and national economies billions of dollars.
  • Global convergence and modernization of customs practices are necessary for efficient supply chains.
  • Trade facilitation and robust implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) are critical to members of the trade. The TFA promises to streamline customs processes and procedures, provide increased transparency, predictability, and speed the movement of goods across borders around the world.

 

USCIB Meets With WCO Secretary-General Elect Ian Saunders (2023)

USCIB is committed to pursuing a broad trade and customs agenda in 2023. The USCIB Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee (CTFC) promotes elimination of trade barriers and harmonization of global customs and border procedures and focuses on supporting the expedited cost-effective movement of goods across borders in full compliance with import requirements.

USCIB Staff and Members at the 2024 Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit in Philadelphia

Current Priorities:

(alphabetical)

  • Classification, valuation, origin: at the domestic and international level (WTO and WCO, as applicable) ensuring industry engagement and issue resolution
  • CTPAT/Trusted Trader, Minimum Security Criteria (MSC), Mutual Recognition, and WCO Safe Framework
  • Customs and TF Provisions of U.S. Free Trade Agreements, securing a better outcome for customs and TF provisions as well as ensuring compliance
  • Customs Modernization, guidance and direction on 21st Century Customs environment
  • Digitalization including a focus on Customs Data – Confidential Business Information, Data Protection, Data Sharing and Interoperability of Single Windows, protecting CBI and ensuring necessary protections are in place
  • E-Commerce in the Customs space, focused on the cross-border movement of physical goods acquired via any online means (e.g., WCO E-Commerce FoS)
  • Expedited and full implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement
  • Forced labor: (Section 307, UFLPA, etc.), guidance and direction
  • Green Customs, providing a thoughtful prioritization in the customs space

USCIB’s Response:

  • Provide thoughtful and focused U.S. domestic and international recommendations on Customs and Trade Facilitation matters including, but not limited to, customs modernization, forced labor, digitalization and confidential business information (CBI) protections,  customs classification, and customs valuation. Represent ICC as authorized representatives to the  WCO Harmonized System Committee (HSC) and Review Subcommittee (RSC) meetings.
  • Advocate for our members in efforts to secure the global classification of products at WCO.
  • Advocate for full (robust) and expedited l implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
  • Work in collaboration with U.S. agencies on customs and TF matters before the WTO, including (USG) on humanitarian cargo /shipments at the WTO Committee on TF, and matters before the Committee on Customs Valuation.
  • Advance thoughtful consensus, member-supported, comments which often take into consideration potential implementation issues and/or unintended consequences on such key issues as Customs matters in the crisis environments (e.g., COVID, natural disasters, etc) , Customs and Trade Facilitation provisions in FTAs, forced labor, domestic and international e-commerce efforts in the customs space related to physical goods movement (e.g., WCO Framework of Standards).
  • Advocate for business on issues such as customs modernization,  customs classification and valuation, forced labor, green customs, non-application of customs formalities to electronic transmissions, and more. Leverage participation in government advisory groups (e.g., ITAC13– Customs and Trade Facilitation, COAC 21 CCF Task Force) to raise member issues of interest and member consensus inputs on Committee priority topics.
  • Meet with U.S. government officials at the key agencies of  Department of Commerce, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Department of Treasury, and Department of State to ensure that U.S. business interests are well reflected in U.S. government positions.
  • Promote the reduction of trade barriers and transaction costs at the border, as well as in customs control practices and advocates for the harmonization of global customs procedures by leveraging various fora and government agencies

Magnifying Your Voice with USCIB:

  • USCIB is the only U.S. business association formally affiliated with the world’s three largest business organizations where we work with business leaders across the globe to extend our reach to influence policymakers in key international markets to American business
  • Build consensus with like-minded industry peers and participate in off-the-record briefings with policymakers both home and abroad.

USCIB on LinkedIn

Chair

Michelle Welsh
Senior Counsel
Global Trade Compliance Legal
Google, Inc.

Staff

Megan Giblin
Director
Customs & Trade Facilitation
202-371-9235 or mgiblin@uscib.org

Staff

Ashley Harrington
Policy & Program Assistant, Washington
202-682-5861 or aharrington@uscib.org