ICC News

10 July 2019: The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Banking Commission has issued new electronic rules (eRules) to advance the digitalisation of trade finance practices. The ICC Banking Commission has released electronic supplements to the existing Uniform Rules for Collections (URC 522) and Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (UCP 600) rules. The new eRules, which came into effect on 1 July, will provide rules for banks operating in today’s increasingly digital trade finance system. In June 2017, ICC formed the “Digitalisation in Trade Finance” Working Group to evaluate challenges faced by banks as trade finance progresses toward a paperless

9 July 2019: The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Torino Chamber of Commerce (Italy) are the latest members to join the International Certificate of Origin (CO) Accreditation Chain. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Torino Chamber of Commerce (Italy) were announced as the newest members of the International Certificate of Origin (CO) Accreditation Chain at the 11th World Chambers Congress in Rio de Janeiro during a meeting of the International CO Council. “We are very pleased to welcome the Canadian Chamber of Commerce as the 25th chamber member of the ICC WCF International CO Accreditation Chain,” said Martin Van der

8 July 2019: The seas around West Africa remain the world’s most dangerous for piracy, the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) latest report reveals. Of the 75 seafarers taken hostage onboard or kidnapped for ransom worldwide so far this year, 62 were captured in the Gulf of Guinea – off the coasts of Benin, Cameroon, Guinea, Nigeria and Togo. Worldwide, the International Chamber of Commerce’s IMB Piracy Reporting Centre recorded 78 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the first half of 2019, compared with 107 incidents for the same period of 2018. Overall, 57 vessels were boarded successfully, representing

28 June 2019: The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Blockchain development company Perlin and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry have signed an exclusive partnership for the distribution of innovative blockchain products developed under the newly established Centre of Future Trade based in Singapore. The Centre of Future Trade, established by ICC and Perlin with the support of Enterprise Singapore, has now signed a major new distribution partner for its technology products with the Dubai Chamber now having exclusive rights to market and distribute innovative blockchain solutions, developed by ICC and Perlin, in the Middle East and Africa. “ICC is committed

28 June 2019: The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) will release Incoterms® 2020 in early September 2019, providing certainty and clarity to businesses trading across borders everywhere. The Incoterms® rules are the language of international trade. When the Incoterms® rules were first introduced in 1936, they brought coherence to a fractured international system, which included conflicting commercial and judicial standards that diverged widely from country to country. Over 80 years later, the Incoterms® rules are used every day by millions of enterprises of all sizes from around the world, including multinational enterprises (MNEs), micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and individual practitioners. As it

20 June 2019: On World Refugee Day, ICC is highlighting the private sector contributions that are helping to integrate refugees into workforces worldwide, including a new ICC partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to enhance business engagement in the international response to the global refugee crisis. Despite economic gains in the past century, many people worldwide have been left behind. Most notably, refugees and internally displaced populations are growing around the world, which has resulted in changing economic, political, and social fabric of communities around the world. Recent statistics from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) cite an unprecedented 70.8 million people

18 June 2019: The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is bringing the voice of business at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) negotiations for the use of electronic commerce (e-commerce). ICC Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Crispin Conroy, today presented recommendations from the global business community during the first round of WTO negotiations on the trade-related aspects of e-commerce. In January 2019, 77 WTO Member States announced the creation of plurilateral negotiations to establish rules for electronic commerce (e-commerce). As the world business organization, ICC has called upon its global network to form a working group on e-commerce to

18 June 2019: As the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) prepares for the launch of Incoterms® 2020, a new in-depth series will explore how the Incoterms® rules make business work for everyone, every day, everywhere. Since the publication of the first edition in 1936, the Incoterms® rules have established clear precedents for business operating within the rules-based international trade system. Despite economic, political and technological changes to our world over the past eight decades, the Incoterms® rules remain relevant to business, governments and individuals everywhere. The Incoterms® rules are a collection of three letter acronyms that outline the responsibilities and duties of importers and exporters.

17 June 2019: The UN Climate Change Conference will take place in Bonn, Germany, from 17-27 June 2019 and ICC will be on the ground to bring a business perspective to the negotiations and advocate for higher climate ambition. All business delegates are invited to join the ICC organised Business and Industry Daily Briefings that aim to facilitate business participation at the event. The briefings will take place on 17-27 June (every day except Sunday) from 09:00-10:00 at the World Conference Center Bonn in the AH Lower Conference Room. Business is essential to climate policy Business participation in climate change discussions is essential

15 June 2019: On the final day of the 11th World Chambers Congress, three chambers have been crowned champions of innovation, upon conclusion of the 2019 World Chambers Competition. The World Chambers Competition is the only award programme of its kind to recognise the pioneering initiatives of chambers of commerce from around the world. Held in conjunction with the biennial Congress, this year’s edition took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After two days of presentations, the three winning chambers were announced under the following categories: Category: Best Education and Training Project Winner: Chamber of Commerce in Styria (Austria) This category acknowledges chambers who are proving