ICC News

12 January 2021 The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has announced record requests in 2020 for its arbitration and ADR services. The world’s preferred arbitral institute, the ICC International Court of Arbitration recorded a total of 946 new arbitration cases in 2020 – the highest number of cases registered since 2016, when a complex cluster of small disputes effectuated a marked increase in the statistics. Of the 946 total registered cases, a record 929 were requested under the ICC Rules of Arbitration while 17 cases were filed under the ICC Appointing Authority Rules whereby parties to an arbitration who have determined

5 January 2021 Aeroporti di Roma and Alitalia have today begun using ICC AOKpass in a pilot scheme to digitise Covid-19 rapid antigen test results, carried out at the airport. The testing will allow passengers bound for New York on Alitalia Covid-tested flights to present, upon boarding, a digital negativity certificate from a Covid-19 rapid antigen test, augmenting safety and saving time during travel procedures. In December, ICC announced the first ever use of a digital travel pass by a national immigration authority to verify the Covid-19 status of inbound travellers, following the conclusion of a ground-breaking pilot in partnership with International SOS

1 January 2021 In a challenging year, ICC remained steadfast in our commitment to bring our quality dispute resolution services closer to users worldwide. Here are 8 highlights from our ICC Dispute Resolution year… Announcing record figures and a major milestone ICC’s dispute resolution year got off to a flying start with the registration of our 25,000th arbitration case. In January, we also announced record figures for 2019 revealing a record 869 new cases involving parties originating from 147 countries and independent territories. President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration Alexis Mourre said: “The continued growth in ICC Arbitration cases

29 December 2020 In a year that put to the test ICC’s ability to mobilise business behind global challenges, our pioneering spirit shone through to ensure our global institution lived up to its reputation as the trusted voice of business on issues facing people and planet. We’re taking a look back at our ground-breaking year to wrap up just 10 ways in which we made business work for everyone, every day, everywhere. Saving lives and livelihoods – ICC acts against Covid-19 Before Covid-19 had a name, ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO responded to the outbreak of coronavirus in China underscoring the

29 December 2020 Ahead of the entry into force of the 2021 ICC Arbitration Rules, the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce has released updates to its Note to Parties and Arbitral Tribunals on the Conduct of Arbitration under the ICC Rules of Arbitration, effective 1 January 2021. Last updated in 2019, the Note provides parties and arbitral tribunals with practical guidance concerning the conduct of arbitrations under the ICC Rules and summarises the practices of the ICC Court. The updates were discussed by the Bureau of the ICC Court, further to proposals made by ICC Court President Alexis

10 December 2020 ICC has launched a working paper outlining how changes to the application of competition law could accelerate corporate action to fight climate change. Issued on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the landmark Paris Agreement, the paper highlights how competition law – and, more specifically, the fear of unnecessarily restrictive antitrust enforcement – currently inhibits companies from working together to reduce their carbon footprints. There are signs that many businesses are eager to partner on sustainability efforts – recognising that  co-operation is vital to achieve meaningful scale in addressing climate change and other environmental challenges. However, a

10 December 2020 ICC’s Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) initiative has released a 2020 update of its 2013 publication examining the balance of facilitation and control required to combat illicit trade in Free Trade Zones. Paris, 10 December 2020 The updated paper Controlling the zone: Balancing facilitation and control to combat illicit trade in the world’s Free Trade Zones sheds light on the trends of counterfeiting and other forms of illicit trade facilitated through free trade zones (FTZs). Specifically, the report addresses how criminals use transit or transhipment of goods, through multiple, geographically diverse FTZs for no other purpose than

10 December 2020 The SME Climate Hub has joined forces with Oxford University to provide small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with tools and resources to help them take climate action. Ahead of the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement signing, the freely available tools and resources are specially selected for SMEs to reduce carbon emissions, build business resilience and gain a competitive advantage, and help them achieve the Paris Agreement goals. As the world reflects on progress on climate action since the Paris Agreement signing, it is clear that action by SMEs is an essential part of accelerating the transition to

9 December 2020 In a memo to World Trade Organization Members, ICC has called on negotiators to accelerate progress and conclude a high standard agreement by the next WTO Ministerial Conference. There are now 86 World Trade Organization (WTO) Members negotiating the JSI, representing well over 90% of world trade. Citing the indispensable role of the digital economy during COVID-19, the memo says: “As communities have socially distanced to flatten the curve, contactless payments have enabled safe, COVID-free transactions; brick-and-mortar retailers have rapidly moved to sell their wares online, powered by a vibrant ecosystem of software as a service providers; citizens

8 December 2020 ICC’s Ibero-American national committees in 13 countries have joined forces to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, underscoring the importance of the anti-corruption agenda as a key means of promoting social inclusion and economic growth in the region in the context of the current pandemic. Celebrated on 9 December each year, Anti-Corruption Day aims to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the 2005 United Nations Convention Against Corruption in combating and preventing it. ICC national committees of the ICC in Latin America acknowledge the role the current pandemic has played in exacerbating the risks of corruption, bribery, fraud, illegal