ICC’s mission

ICC was created in 1919 by a handful of entrepreneurs to:

promote cross-border trade and investment and the multilateral trading system

represent business all over the world

ICC members

ICC has hundreds of thousands of members in 130 countries:

Companies Of all sizes and from all sectors

Chambers of commerceRegional, national and local

Business associationsNational and sectoral

and worldwide offices in over 90 countries

ICC member companies

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Examples of some well-known ICC members from different sectors:

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ICC offices around the world

Why global networks?

• Networks essential in any business to gain information, knowledge, contacts and trust

• Even small businesses look to export markets: global networks can help

• Improved communications make information on markets and opportunities more easily available

• Networks being increasingly used in business as basis for marketing, innovation, new business models

Global networks

Global networks can help on two levels

Create tools and frameworks to support market access

Business opportunities and development for individual businesses

Global networks can help build trust

Tools and frameworks

What tools and frameworks have been created by global business networks to support market access?

International trade transactions

Customs facilitation

Dispute resolution

Policy frameworks

International trade transactions (1)

Incoterms (International Commercial Terms)

• Standard trade definitions most commonly used in international sales contracts e g . EXW (Ex works), FOB (Free on Board), CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight), DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid), and CPT (Carriage Paid To)

• Devised by ICC using network of trade specialists and interested parties

• Since 1936, updated six times to keep pace with the

development of international trade. Current version: Incoterms 2000 (being revised).

International trade transactions (2)Model contracts and clauses

• Developed by ICC network of lawyers and expertsworldwide

• Neutral framework for international contracts : even-handed agreement acceptable to both sides ; no bias for any one particular legal system

• Examples: Global sourcing ; Commercial Agency;  Confidentiality; Distributorship; Franchising; Mergers and Acquisitions; International Sales; Share Purchase; Intermediaries Selective Distributorship; Electronic Contracting; Trademark Licence; Technology Transfer; Subcontracting

International trade transactions (3)

Rules for documentary credits

• Letters of credit used in international tradetransactions to ensure payment and contract performance

• ICC through network of trade finance specialists has issued standardized rules Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits

• Regular revisions by ICC: current version is UCP600

Customs facilitation (1)

ATA Carnet

• International customs document

• Permits duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods for up to one year.

• Covers commercial samples, professional equipment, goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, exhibitions

• Network of customs authorities and national issuing organizations coordinated by ICC-WCF

Customs facilitation (2)

Certificate of Origin (CO)

Attests that goods in a particular export shipment are wholly obtained or produced or manufactured or processed in a particular country (country of origin).

Important to determine what duty will be assessed on the goods or whether goods may be legally imported.

Issued by network of chambers of commerce and trade associations

ICC World Chambers Federation International Certificate of Origin Guidelines : first international procedures and guidelines manual

Dispute resolution

• Contracts essential basis for business transactions: need to forsee resolution of disputes

• In 1921, ICC network of businesses realized need to create alternative dispute settlement procedures for businesses trading internationally

• ICC dispute settlement services : trusted system created by a business network for businesses

• Mediation, arbitration, conciliation

Policy framework

• Businesses work within framework of national, regional and international rules

• Rules have important effects on business and market access eg trade, investment,intellectual property, tax, competition, environment, customs, transport, marketing, e-business

• Networks of businesses work with governments to help shape these rules: ICC (international/multisectoral eg UN, WTO etc); chambers of commerce and trade/professional associations (sector specific issues and national/regional level)

Business opportunities and development

How can global networks help

create business opportunities ?

develop individual businesses ?

World Chambers Congress

• Takes place every 2 years in a different region of the world: Kuala Lumpur, 3-5 June 2010

• Brings together nearly 2000 chamber and

business representatives from over 100 countries

• Excellent networking platform and exhibition space

• Focus on role of women in business

and intellectual property

Electronic marketplaces/info exchange

Internet = new opportunities for information exchange and contacts BUT problem of trust.

World Chambers Network website platform for exchange of business information between chambers and their member companies worldwide

The Global Business Exchange (GBX) – business opportunities from member chambers worldwide on easy-to-search online database. Partnership with Openentry – market access for SMEs.

International trade information - country reports, trade and customs information, etc. produced by chambers of commerce, and available online.

Chambers IP programmes

• Many chambers and business organisations offer IP support programmes for businesses

• ICC IP tool-kit for chambers – listing of types of IP support offered by different chambers around the world

Helps businesses identify

chambers that can help them

Helps chambers set up their own initiatives

Counterfeiting and piracy

• ICC BASCAP initiative provides platform to connect and mobilize businesses across industries, sectors and national borders in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy.

• Website rich source of information

• IP guidelines for business:

what businesses can do to protect their own creativity and innovation and lower the risk of using counterfeit materials or infringing other companies’ IP rights

• BASCAP supports local groups and initiatives in different countries

Business/professional associations

• Networks of people

• Trust building

• Information exchange

• Learn from each others’ experiences

• Force for change

For more information

Thank you for your attention

Daphne Yong-d’Hervé dye@iccwbo.org

ICC : www.iccwbo.orgWorld Chambers Federation:

http://www.iccwbo.org/wcf/id8856/index.htmlCommission on Intellectual Property:

http://www.iccwbo.org/policy/ip/id3060/index.html