ICC News

9 November 2020 ICC’s Advisory Group on Trade Finance has called on G20 leaders to leverage trade finance to safeguard SMEs and power global recovery. The co-chairs of a high-level advisory group to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have issued an urgent call to G20 leaders to take action to avert the risk of widespread insolvencies amongst small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) globally, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In an open letter, Victor K. Fung (Chairman, Fung Group) and Marcus Wallenberg (Chair, SEB) have urged G20 leaders to make coordinated interventions to increase the availability of trade-related finance – given

6 November 2020 The ICC WCF International Certificate of Origin Council (ICO) gathered virtually for their annual meeting to address recent developments in Certificate of Origin (CO) and digital initiatives. ICC WCF welcomed 47 CO experts from 32 countries to the online meeting which was chaired by Peter Bishop, Chairman of ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) International CO Council and Deputy CEO of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Martin Van der Weide, Deputy Chair of the CO Council and Policy Manager on Origin of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce. Deliberations included ICC WCF initiatives and CO issues encountered

3 November 2020 ICC is pleased to announce that Claudia T. Salomon has been recommended for election as President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration with effect from 1 July 2021 putting her on a path to becoming the first woman President of the ICC Court in its almost 100-year history. A member of the New York Bar and a solicitor in England and Wales, Ms Salomon is a Vice-President of the ICC Court and a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins where she is Global Co-Chair of the firm’s international arbitration practice. Ms Salomon is

29 October 2020 The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is virtually convening business leaders to participate in the 15th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to discuss pressing issues, like digital inclusion, data governance, trust online, environmental sustainability, and more. The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was launched in 2006 by the United Nations (UN) Secretary General to serve as a multi-stakeholder dialogue on key legal, political, social, and technical issues related to the Internet. Since the first forum held in Athens, Greece, the IGF has pioneered a new avenue for policy cooperation bringing people together from various stakeholder groups (governments, business, technical

28 October 2020 International experts from the banking industry came together to discuss key topics affecting the trade finance industry this week at the Annual Technical Meeting of ICC’s Banking Commission. International experts from the banking industry came together to discuss key topics affecting the trade finance industry this week at the Annual Technical Meeting of ICC’s Banking Commission. Here are five highlights from the day: Digitalisation of trade finance With COVID-19 further exposing the fragility of global trade’s reliance on paper documentation, ICC has been reinforcing its efforts to drive harmonisation of digital processes for trade flows – including directly

27 October 2020 The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has launched the Private Sector for Refugees (PS4R) web portal to showcase public-private sector collaborations that integrate refugees into the global economy. In collaboration with the European Investment Bank, Danish Industri, the World Bank Group, and the United Nations Refugee Agency, the PS4R web portal will share global lessons on the role of the private sector in supporting the economic integration of refugees. The web portal will share initiatives and-experiences by civil society, companies, business associations, as well as national and international development institutions on the role of the private sector in

26 October 2020 ICC – the institutional representative of 45 million companies – has welcomed today’s announcement by newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, committing Japan to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Commenting on the announcement, ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said: “I commend Prime Minister Suga for this concrete commitment to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. As the third largest economy and the fifth largest emitter of CO2, this announcement, just weeks ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the 2020 G20 Leaders Summit, represents a remarkable show of leadership at

8 October 2020 The International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce has unveiled revised Rules of Arbitration due to enter into force in January 2021. The 2021 ICC Arbitration Rules mark another step towards even more efficient, flexible and transparent ICC Arbitrations offering. The ICC International Court of Arbitration is the most preferred arbitral institution worldwide. The ICC Rules of Arbitration offer the greatest deference to party autonomy – by allowing parties of an Arbitration the opportunity to select the arbitral tribunal – and offer a high level of flexibility, by accommodating any procedural option chosen by the litigants that

8 October 2020 ICC, ITUC and Global Citizen call for an updated G20 Action Plan to address the barriers that sovereign debt burdens present toward pandemic containment and economic stabilisation. In an open letter issued today, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the institutional representative of over 45 million businesses, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the global voice of the world’s working people, and Global Citizen, a movement of engaged citizens who use their collective voice to end extreme poverty by 2030, have urged G20 Finance Ministers to be bold in updating their Action Plan at next week’s meeting. The

6 October 2020 In an open letter to G20 tourism ministers, ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO has said Covid-free travel can be achieved through a balance of right policy settings, technological tools and industry buy-in. Addressing ministers ahead of their 7 October meeting as part of the Sherpa Track for the G20 Leaders Summit 2020, Mr Denton’s letter underscores the need to re-open international travel while credibly addressing fears of infection and resurgence. Writing on behalf of 45 million companies worldwide Mr Denton said that while immediate measures such as closing borders and testing upon arrival had been successful