ICC News

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

26 January 2021 The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) joins global coalition of industry associations to advance WTO framework on data flows. ICC is pleased to join the release today of the Joint Industry Statement on Cross-Border Data Transfers and Data Localization Disciplines in the WTO Negotiations on E-Commerce, which encourages WTO negotiators to agree on a framework to facilitate the seamless and secure movement of information across borders. “COVID-19 has underscored the indispensable role of e-commerce in our lives, and we commend the participating WTO Members for the progress made to date,” said ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO. “We

26 January 2021 The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International SOS, and Ethiad Airlines have joined together to pilot ICC AOKpass on Paris-Abu Dhabi flights. In collaboration with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, MedAire, an International SOS company, has launched an advanced operational pilot for the digitalisation of pre-departure COVID-19 testing using the ICC AOKpass mobile app. Following the success of an initial pilot for Etihad launched in September 2020 as a world’s first for the air travel industry, use of ICC AOKpass is now offered to Etihad passengers flying from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Abu

25 January 2021 New comprehensive economic modelling shows advanced economies stand to lose trillions of dollars through vaccine nationalism – more than previously thought Economic benefits of funding multilateral efforts to ensure equitable access to vaccines dwarf the costs Advanced economies with international linkages have the most to gain from global collaboration on vaccine access and distribution A new study commissioned by the ICC Research Foundation has found that the global economy stands to lose as much as $9.2 trillion if governments fail to ensure developing economy access to COVID-19 vaccines, as much as half of which would fall on advanced

19 January 2021 ICC has launched a new report on the accuracy of fact witness memory in international arbitration. The report, which is the first of its kind conducted by an arbitral institution, analyses the psychological science of human memory, and offers arbitrators and counsel guidance to enhance the probative value of fact witness evidence The groundbreaking report, by the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, was presented today during a live webinar. The ICC Task Force on Maximising the Probative Value of Witness Evidence – initiated by former Commission Chair Christopher Newmark and co-chaired by Baker & McKenzie Partner Ragnar Harbst and