ICC News

23 February 2021 Hamad Buamim, Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) World Chambers Federation (WCF) has officially launched the World Chambers Competition. The 2021 edition of the Competition will recognise chambers of commerce around the world that are striving to keep their business communities functioning even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch the video The sudden coronavirus outbreak led to unprecedented disruption and hardship for many businesses across the world, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises. However, chambers of commerce globally have been stepping up to provide tools and resources to help business communities survive and build resilience

19 February 2021 Calling for global action plan to beat the pandemic, ICC, the institutional representative of over 45 million businesses – has issued a statement following the conclusion of the G7 leaders’ summit. ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said: “G7 leaders have sent a very welcome signal today of their intent to correct the failings in international cooperation that have blighted the response to Covid-19 over the past year. But warm words alone won’t mitigate the severe downside risk posed to the global economy by the very real prospect of a prolonged pandemic in the developing world. “A

17 February 2021 Air France has announced a pilot of ICC AOKpass, to improve its customers’ experience and streamline the airport journey. The four-week test will begin on 11 March 2021 on all Air France flights from Paris-CDG to Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and Fort-de-France (Martinique). It will be done on a voluntary basis, in order to test the operation of the application in real conditions and to collect opinions of test clients. Air France will share the feedback with other companies in the Skyteam alliance currently testing a range of solutions for digitalising health documents. In addition to testing the ICC AOKpass

12 February 2021 New Zealand’s University of Auckland took victory in the 16th edition of the ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition in an all-woman final against Bulgaria’s University of Sofia. The University of New South Wales, Australia took third place, followed by the Brooklyn Law School from the United States in fourth. Watch the final mock mediation The fictitious final dispute between a small textile manufacturer and a distribution company specialising in products for tourists was based on a real-world case and written by Competition professional, Alain Roy. Commenting on the session, professional mediator and Competition Final judge Thomas Valenti said:

6 February 2021 Following the announcement that the US has given its formal backing to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to lead the World Trade Organization, ICC has issued the following statement. ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said: “The global business community will be delighted to learn that the US Administration has given its backing to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to take up the position of World Trade Organization Director General. Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s skills and experience make her, without doubt, the ideal candidate to drive concerted action in the WTO to combat the public health and economic effects of the pandemic.   

5 February 2021 ICC’s largest educational event of the year, ICC Mediation Week, begins today and is going digital for the first time in its 16-year history. More than 400 students, ADR professionals, academics and volunteers from almost 40 countries will convene via a custom-built platform, to participate in the annual event, making it the most diverse edition to date. The global health crisis has impacted conflict resolution processes across the globe, challenging commercial partners in their efforts to resolve disputes effectively and efficiently. But despite the obstacles the pandemic has imposed across industries, it has brought an array of opportunities

4 February 2021 As students and professionals from countries spanning the globe gear up for the 16th annual ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition, Oliver Carroll of Clifford Chance has five tips to navigating mediation in a digital space. Oliver Carroll, Lawyer, Clifford Chance The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges to all manner of dispute resolution. Whether it is becoming accustomed to addressing a judge from your bedroom via Zoom, taking instruction from your client on WhatsApp, or trying to guess your opponent’s hobbies from their home office bookshelves, the new world of remote-working has brought new difficulties and forms of

29 January 2021 The International Chamber of Commerce is calling on the European Commission to reconsider the introduction of export controls on coronavirus vaccines made in the bloc. ICC Secretary General John W.H Denton AO said: “We are deeply concerned by the Commission’s decision to press ahead with the introduction of export controls on coronavirus vaccines made in the EU. Regardless of how these measures are calibrated, today’s announcement sends a dangerous signal to the world as we seek to recover together from the coronavirus pandemic. And one that risks sparking retaliatory action that will stifle global medical supply chains, undermine

29 January 2021 An ICC letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed deep concern over the European Union’s plan to impose export restrictions on vaccines. The letter, sent yesterday from ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO on behalf of over 45 million businesses, expressed the global business community’s concern at proposals to impose controls on the export of COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in the EU. It called on President von der Leyen and her Commission colleagues to reflect on the negative consequences of trade restrictions on the supply of vaccines for EU citizens. The letter follows the launch

29 January 2021 The city of Girona will utilise ICC AOKpass in a pilot scheme to digitise COVID-19 antigen test results and safely reopen its economy in the age of the pandemic. The pilot scheme, which runs from 22 February until the end of March 2021, will allow users to present a digitally authenticated COVID-19 negative test result to gain entry into public exhibitions, business events, restaurants, and football matches. The pilot scheme, known as “Opening Girona,” was developed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International SOS, and the Catalonian Blockchain Centre with local support from the government of Girona, the