On June 17, USCIB participated on a panel organized by the Washington International Trade Association with the OECD on Trade and Inclusiveness, which followed a speech by OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria. Gurria delivered key points to an audience of over 80 people about the importance of trade and investment for economic growth.

Rob Mulligan, USCIB’s senior vice president for policy and government affairs, participated on a panel moderated by Shawn Donnan (Financial Times) and talked about the 10 recommendations that the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD made for increasing productivity, growth and prosperity. The recommendations included the need to address cross border trade barriers, improve regulation and regulatory cooperation, provide an environment conducive to investment, encourage lifelong learning, create a framework that supports innovation and the digital economy, and flexible labor markets.

There was a loose consensus among the speakers that policies to open trade and investment had to be supported by complimentary policies that facilitate opportunities for all to benefit from growth generated by trade. In the questions from the moderator the panel touched on global value chains, localization requirements, competitiveness, the changes in trade agreements over the last 20 years as well as several other topics.

Other panelists included Ken Ash (OECD) and Nancy Donaldson (International Organization of Employers).

USCIB will be organizing a trade and investment conference in Washington, D.C. in September.