An overview of ICCPromoting world trade

The International Chamber of Commerce

ICC is the world business organization, a representative body that speaks withauthority on behalf of enterprises from all sectors in every part of the world.

The fundamental mission of ICC is to promote trade and investment across frontiersand help business corporations meet the challenges and opportunities of globalization.Its conviction that trade is a powerful force for peace and prosperity dates from theorganization’s origins early in the last century. The small group of far-sighted businessleaders who founded ICC called themselves “the merchants of peace”.

ICC has three main activities: rules-setting, arbitration and policy. Because its membercompanies and associations are themselves engaged in international business, ICC has unrivalled authority in making rules that govern the conduct of business acrossborders. Although these rules are voluntary, they are observed in countless thousandsof transactions every day and have become part of the fabric of international trade.

ICC also provides essential services, foremost among them the ICC International Court of Arbitration, the world’s leading arbitral institution. Another service is the World Chambers Federation, ICC's worldwide network of chambers of commerce, fostering interaction and exchange of chamber best practice.

Business leaders and experts drawn from the ICC membership establish the businessstance on broad issues of trade and investment policy as well as on vital technical and sectoral subjects. These include financial services, information technologies,telecommunications, marketing ethics, the environment, transportation, competitionlaw and intellectual property, among others.

ICC enjoys a close working relationship with the United Nations and otherintergovernmental organizations, including the World Trade Organization and the G8.

ICC was founded in 1919. Today it groups hundreds of thousands of member companies and associations from over 130 countries. National committees work with their members to address the concerns of business in their countries and convey to their governments the business views formulated by ICC.

For information on how to join ICC, visit the ICC website (iccwbo.org) or contact the ICC Membership Department in Paris.

38, Cours Albert 1er, 75008 Paris, FranceTelephone +33 (0) 1 49 53 28 28 Fax +33 (0) 1 49 53 29 24Website www.iccwbo.org E-mail icc@iccwbo.org

Specialized divisions

ICC’s Dispute Resolution Services: The world’s

most respected system of commercial dispute

resolution, including the ICC International Court

of Arbitration. (See pages 8-9) ICC’s Institute of World

Business Law provides training and the exchange

of knowledge and expertise in international arbitration

and commercial law.

ICC Events: Staging conferences, workshops

and seminars on issues vital to international business

practitioners. (See pages 16-17)

ICC Publications: Producer of quality business titles.

(See pages 18-19)

ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF): The world’s

largest network of chambers of commerce;

administers the ATA Carnet system, facilitating

the temporary admission of goods across borders.

(See pages 20-21)

ICC Commercial Crime Services (CCS): Crime

prevention for business – fighting maritime piracy,

financial fraud and counterfeiting. (See pages 22-23)

(Continued on page 3)

ICC operates today with the same belief that drove

its founding fathers to create the organization

in 1919 – namely, that business should take the

initiative to address some of the major challenges

facing economies around the world. The members

of the world business organization are companies

and associations engaged in international business.

They are champions of the market economy

system – of open markets and rules-based trade

and investment. ICC is the premier provider of services

to world business, operating through its policy

commissions, special projects and specialized divisions.

Policy commissions

Much of ICC’s work is rooted in producing rules

and guidelines to facilitate international trade,

which is done through specialized working bodies

known as commissions. Consisting of business experts

drawn from the membership, the commissions

also elaborate policy on major issues that affect

business globally. (See pages 4-7)

Special projects

BASCAP: Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting

and Piracy is a coalition of ICC member companies

and trade associations actively engaged in a set

of projects designed to protect intellectual property

rights and stop the spread of counterfeit products.

(See pages 10-11)

BASIS: Business Action to Support the Information

Society is the voice of world business on Internet

governance issues and information and

communications technologies. (See pages 14-15)

An overview of ICC

ICC members are at

the forefront of business

self-regulation. They set

ICC’s agenda, determine

its priorities and are

instrumental in drawing

up rules that business

uses every day.

ICC opens the door to

the corridors of power,

giving company executives

a means to access

government ministers

and top international

officials who make

decisions affecting

corporate performance.

Advance intelligence

is made available on

new laws and regulations.

As a result, ICC members

are well informed at an

early stage – and win

time to make the right

decisions for their business.

By joining ICC, companies

large and small become

part of the world’s

most prominent business

organization with some

90 national committees

around the world.

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ICC’s unswerving advocacy of open international trade and investment and the market economy system over nearly a century has made an enormously effective contribution towards the healthy

expansion of business and the improvement of living standards across large parts of the world.Guy Sebban, ICC Secretary General

“”

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Executive Board

Strategic direction for ICC is provided by

its Executive Board, consisting of up to 30 business

leaders and ex officio members. It is elected

by the World Council on the recommendation

of the Chairmanship. Meeting three times a year,

the Executive Board oversees the establishment

of ICC’s strategic priorities and the implementation

of its policies.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee advises the Executive Board

on all financial matters. On behalf of the Executive

Board, it prepares the budget and regularly reports

to the board. It reviews the financial implications

of ICC activities and supervises the flow of revenues

and expenses of the organization. The Chairman

is elected by the ICC World Council.

National Committees

In 90 of the world’s nations, members have

established formal ICC structures called national

committees. In countries where there is no national

committee, companies and organizations such

as chambers of commerce and professional

associations can become direct members.

ICC has unrivalled access to national governments

through its network of national committees.

(For a list of national committees and their contact

details, visit www.iccwbo.org)

International Secretariat

The ICC International Secretariat, based in Paris,

is the operational arm of ICC. It develops and carries

out ICC’s work programme, feeding business views

into intergovernmental organizations on issues

that directly affect business operations.

The International Secretariat is led by the Secretary

General, who is appointed by the World Council.

World Council

ICC’ s supreme governing body is the World Council,

consisting of representatives of national committees.

The World Council elects ICC’s highest officers,

including the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman,

each of whom serves a two-year term. The Chairman,

Vice-Chairman and the Honorary Chairman

(the immediate past Chairman) provide the

organization with high-level world leadership.

An overview of ICC (Continued from page 1)

ICC is a treasure trove

of information and

experience in all matters

affecting business.

By serving on ICC policy

commissions, members

contribute their

know-how to ICC

statements and thus

have an influence on

governments. They tap

into the vast multi-

disciplinary knowledge

of the 2000 business

experts who carry out

the commissions’ work.

ICC’s influence around

the world relies upon

its global network

of national committees

in some 90 countries.

It is their job to voice the

interests of business to

their national governments,

and also to provide input

to ICC’s policy work.

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I am both aware and deeply appreciative of the work ICC has done to maintain business pressure on the world trade talks. It is important for business and governments

to work together to push for progress. I hope you will continue your commendable efforts.Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer, United Kingdom

“”

54

Trade, investment and globalization

The fight for an open world economy and the market

system is never won, as difficulties encountered

by the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations

attest. Successful integration of developing countries

into the global economy through increased trade

and investment is one of the international community’s

most pressing challenges. ICC will remain a steadfast

rallying point, telling governments, intergovernmental

bodies and the public that strengthening commercial

ties among nations is good for business, good for

living standards and good for peace.

Business in society

Society’s expectations of the role of business

are changing rapidly, and cover everything from the

environment to community relations. To address these

new demands, ICC provides business input to major

initiatives, such as the UN Global Compact, which

offers guidance to business on promoting human rights.

In recent decades, the world has grown increasingly

interdependent. To meet the challenges brought on

by globalization, ICC helps businesses to formulate

policy positions and ensures those positions are heard

at the national and international level.

Preferred business partner to the UN

National governments, even rich and powerful ones,

are unable to deal single-handedly with pressing global

challenges, such as climate change. The way forward

to resolving these challenges lies with increased

multilateral cooperation among countries in

intergovernmental forums. ICC’s privileged consultative

status with major intergovernmental organizations

(IGOs) and its long experience voicing business views

to influence negotiations at this level are crucial to

help achieve global consensus. Extensive consultation

of its global membership lends ICC special authority

and legitimacy to its views in these gatherings.

ICC enjoys a close working relationship with

the United Nations and other intergovernmental

organizations, including the G8 and the World Trade

Organization. Since 1946, ICC has had consultative

status with the UN and its specialized agencies.

With IGOs increasingly involved in matters of concern

to the business community, it is important that business

representatives be “at the table” when these issues

are discussed. Emphasis on the crucial role of the

private sector in the achievement of the international

community’s development goals makes ICC’s

participation in IGO discussions even more necessary.

Making policy in a rapidly evolving world

Over the years, ICC has

been actively involved

in the work of the

UN’s Economic and

Social Council (ECOSOC),

the International

Telecommunication Union

(ITU), the UN Commission

on International Trade

Law (UNCITRAL), the UN

Conference on Trade and

Development (UNCTAD),

the UN Commission on

Sustainable Development

(UNCSD), the UN

Development Programme

(UNDP), the UN Economic

Commission for Europe

(ECE), the UN Environment

Programme (UNEP),

the World Customs

Organization (WCO), the

World Health Organization

(WHO) and the World

Intellectual Property

Organization (WIPO),

among others.

I believe that trade opening and reduced trade barriers have been, are and will remain essential to promote growth and development, to improve standards of living

and to tackle poverty reduction. The World Trade Organization remains the most efficient and most legitimate forum to open and regulate world trade.

Pascal Lamy, Director-General, World Trade Organization

“”

The ICC website attracts

users from every corner

of the globe. The user-

friendly site is the place

to discover what ICC

is doing to promote the

interests of the business

community, locate policy

documents, register for

ICC events, purchase ICC

publications and find out

more about all of ICC’s

services. It is constantly

updated to ensure that

the latest ICC news

is only a click away.

www.iccwbo.org

76

and seller in cross-border sales contracts, and have been

endorsed by the UN Commission on International Trade

Law. These terms, such as FOB (Free on Board), are

regularly incorporated into sales contracts worldwide

and have become part of the daily language of trade.

Model contracts

ICC’s series of model contracts is an indispensable

tool for trouble-free trading. A model contract

is a legal device that any company may adapt to

its needs – thus shortening the time it must spend

on negotiations, which saves money and facilitates

trade. The ICC Model Confidentiality Agreement,

for example, helps businesses large and small

to protect sensitive information. Others in the series

include the ICC Model Distributorship Contract

and the ICC Model International Franchising Contract.

Certificate of Origin Guidelines

This set of guidelines for the issuance of certificates

of origin, used by customs as the main way to apply

tariffs, is the first set of international procedures

on this subject and is based on the work of ICC’s

World Chambers Federation. These voluntary rules

help govern business conduct across borders

and benefit traders and customs officials alike.

Writing rules for business

At the heart of international trade are rules, norms,

standards and tools that help facilitate the daily flow

of global commerce, the life-support system of

cross-border trade and investment. In its historic

rules-writing function, ICC has developed a large array

of voluntary rules, guidelines and codes to facilitate

business and spread best practices. These rules help

reinforce business self-regulation, provide an invaluable

service to businesses across the globe, and are used

in billions of dollars’ worth of transactions every year.

The most widely used set of rules in international

finance, the UCP 600 Uniform Customs and Practice

for Documentary Credit, was revised in 2006.

UCP takes effect from mid-2007.

Business self-regulation

ICC’s consolidated and expanded advertising

and marketing code, the eighth revision since it first

appeared in 1937, sets a high ethical bar for industry

self-regulation in a fast-paced media era. It includes

new guidance in everything from advertising

on the Internet to SMS and further direction on green

advertising claims. To help in the fight against child

obesity, ICC’s framework for responsible food and

beverage marketing provides a series of guideposts

that set rigorous standards for advertising to children.

Incoterms

Now in their 70th year, ICC’s International Commercial

Terms, known as Incoterms, help avoid legal uncertainty

by spelling out clear responsibilities between the buyer

Rules-Setting

Frequently, parties

to a contract are unaware

of the different trading

practices in their respective

countries. To help avoid

misunderstandings

and facilitate trade,

ICC first published a set

of international rules

for the interpretation

of trade terms, called

Incoterms, in 1936.

Over the years, this

undisputed worldwide

contractual standard

has been regularly

updated and now includes

13 terms, including FOB

(Free on Board) and EXW

(Ex Works).

ICC's Code of Advertising and Marketing Communication Practice is a prime example of ‘better regulation’ in a time when legislation

has grave problems keeping pace in fast-moving markets.

“”

Jean-Pierre Teyssier, President, European Advertising Standards Alliance

98

> Confidential: ICC arbitration is not public.

Confidentiality is often the reason parties choose

ICC arbitration.

> High-caliber: The distinctive characteristics of ICC

arbitration – including the role of the ICC Court

and its Secretariat, the method for designating

arbitrators, the fixing of arbitrators’ remuneration

and the scrutiny of arbitral awards – all contribute

to the stellar reputation of the ICC system.

> Enforceable: Arbitral awards enjoy greater international

recognition than judgments of national courts.

Most countries have signed the 1958 United Nations

Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement

of Foreign Arbitral Awards, facilitating the

enforcement of such awards. Scrutiny of awards by

the ICC Court is an added value of the ICC arbitration

procedure that contributes to their enforceability.

The ICC Rules of Arbitration are published in a booklet

with the ICC Rules for a Pre-Arbitral Referee

Procedure, which provide a means of dealing rapidly

with urgent problems that may arise in a contractual

relationship before recourse to arbitration.

ICC’s International Court of Arbitration is the most

trusted system of commercial arbitration in the world,

having received more than 14 500 cases since

its founding in 1923.

Over the past decade, the Court’s workload has

considerably expanded as its reputation for fast,

flexible dispute resolution services spreads worldwide.

The Court’s membership has also grown and covers

86 countries.

With representatives in North America, Latin

and Central America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia

and the United Kingdom, and brochures available

in many languages, the ICC Court has boosted

its academic and training activities on all continents

and in all major languages used in international trade.

The advantages of ICC arbitration

> Fast: Arbitration is generally faster than litigation.

In ICC arbitration, time periods for stages

of the procedure are monitored by the ICC Court

to make sure cases move forward.

> Flexible: Arbitrations take place in any country

and any language, with arbitrators of any nationality.

All cases are administered by the ICC Court

Secretariat in Paris.

> Cost-efficient: Because cases are resolved in a timely

way, ICC arbitration is often much less expensive than

litigation. Also, the scale system for fixing costs in ICC

arbitration allows predictability for the parties.

Arbitration – resolving disputes quickly and flexibly

ICC Dispute Resolution

Services exist in

many forms.

Amicable dispute

resolution offers

a framework for the

settlement of disputes

with the assistance of

a neutral. Parties choose

the settlement technique,

such as negotiation

or a mini-trial.

Dispute boards

are independent bodies

designed to help resolve

disagreements arising

during the course

of a contract.

Expertise is a way

of finding the right person

to make an independent

assessment on any subject

relevant to business

operations.

DOCDEX provides expert

decisions to resolve

disputes related to

documentary credits,

collections and demand

guarantees, incorporating

ICC banking rules.

The Secretariat of

ICC’s International Court

of Arbitration has an

online case-management

system that allows it

to follow the over 1000

arbitrations it supervises

at any one time.

NetCase allows all

participants in an

arbitration to communicate

through a secure website

hosted by ICC. Users

benefit from round-the-

clock access, security,

confidentiality and

organized storage

and document handling.

The ICC International Court of Arbitration is the most widely known arbitral institution. In addition to arbitration, over the years ICC has developed a full range of other dispute

resolution rules to meet the challenges of international commerce today.

“”

Pierre Tercier, Chairman, ICC International Court of Arbitration

1110

Damage caused by counterfeiting and piracy:

> consumer health and safety are imperiled –

especially by the widespread counterfeit production

of pharmaceuticals and aircraft and car parts

> governments bear much of the financial burden

through loss of tax revenue

> research and innovation efforts are stymied

> Interpol intelligence shows that counterfeiting

and piracy are increasingly being used to fund

organized crime

BASCAP is prepared for a sustained effort

to end this scourge. As the only business organization

with a truly global reach, ICC is well placed to take

the fight against counterfeiting to the level required

for action to be effective.

Since the launch of ICC’s BASCAP (Business Action to

Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy) project, hundreds of

companies and trade associations in many sectors from

around the globe have championed this bold initiative.

They are engaged in a set of projects designed to defeat

the pirates and increase public and political awareness

of the economic and social harm caused by this illegal

activity. BASCAP is using ICC’s global media network

and national committee structure to get the word out.

BASCAP was launched in 2004 by the then ICC

Chairman, Jean-René Fourtou. It is headed by a group

of like-minded CEOs drawn from ICC’s network and

representing the large number of countries and

industry segments affected by this problem. BASCAP

is an operational programme that connects all

business sectors and cuts across all national borders,

drawing them together to ensure that their message

is clearly heard by governments and the public.

BASCAP aims to:

> increase public and political awareness

of counterfeiting and piracy and the social

and economic harm they wreak

> compel government action and the allocation

of resources towards improving enforcement

of intellectual property rights

> bring about a cultural sea change to ensure

intellectual property rights are protected

and respected

BASCAP leads the fight against counterfeiting and piracy

It is essential that national police forces engage in combating IP crime. Doing so provides them with opportunities to disrupt the activities of transnational

organized criminals that not only manipulate counterfeit and pirated goods to maximize illicit profits, but also trade in many other dangerous illicit commodities.

Ron Noble, Secretary General, Interpol

“”

As members of BASCAP’s

Global Leadership Group,

CEOs of some of the

world’s top companies

have provided their

leadership and influence

to take the fight against

the theft of intellectual

property to the highest

international level.

This has led to the setup

of an online information

clearinghouse that

gives users the latest

information on legislation

and enforcement activity;

details strategies to

safeguard brands;

and provides a global

directory linking actors

engaged in the fight against

counterfeiting and piracy.

Daily intelligence reports

and a case studies

database have also been

developed. The CEO

group is also engaged

in an awareness campaign

to inform policymakers

and the general public

of the staggering

social and economic

costs of this theft.

www.iccwbo.org/bascap

Fighting this 21st century

crime requires the

global cooperation of

governments with industry.

ICC actively engages

governments and

the media, addressing

numerous conferences

each year to raise

awareness of the need

to coordinate efforts.

ICC also partners with

the World Customs

Organization, Interpol

and the World Intellectual

Property Organization

to plan the annual Global

Congress on Combating

Counterfeiting and Piracy.

13

19. From left, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman andCEO, Nestlé; Jean-RenéFourtou, Chairman of the Supervisory Board,Vivendi; Guy Sebban; and Tarik Rangoonwala,Chairman, ForhanPakistan, at a pressconference in Geneva.

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6. South African PresidentThabo Mbeki addressesICC’s 4th WorldChambers Congress in Durban in 2005.

7. Mexico City was the site of an ICC Congressin 1963.

8. ICC has been bringingbusiness people togetherfor decades.

9. Geneva 2007: CEOs of major companies met to develop strategy forICC’s BASCAP project.

10. ICC reports andbrochures are issued in many languages.

11. Marrakesh 2004: Dinnerat an ICC Congress.

2. US President DwightEisenhower with then ICC President EdmondGiscard d’Estaing (centre)and former ICC PresidentPhilip D. Reed at ICC’sCongress in Washington in 1957.

3. The ICC Secretariat in Paris.

4. Experts from ICC membercompanies formulateICC policy.

5. During the recession in the 1970s, ICC stressedthat living standardswould not increasewithout economic growth.

1. ICC’s conviction that tradeis a powerful force forpeace and prosperityunderlies all its work, as illustrated by this 1937 brochure.

12. ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban (far left) wasappointed to the board of the UN GlobalCompact in 2006.

13. Then ICC Chairman Jean-René Fourtou meetsFrench President JacquesChirac in 2003.

14. Cultural entertainment at an ICC meeting in New Delhi.

15. Former French PresidentValéry Giscard d’Estaingspeaks to the media at theICC Congress in Marrakesh.

16. Stamps commemoratingan ICC Congress inIstanbul in 1969.

17. From left: Saroj KumarPoddar, Vice President, ICC India; MarcusWallenberg, ICC Chairman;and Y.K. Modi, President,ICC India, at a BASCAPseminar in New Delhi in 2006.

18. A badge from ICC’s 1967Congress in Montreal.

ICC photo gallery

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Supplying business expertise

ICC has long understood the importance of ICTs

to promote international trade, and has been working

at the heart of ICT and Internet developments for

many years, especially by contributing to global policy

discussions and intergovernmental negotiations.

Furthering growth and prosperity

BASIS contributes to global efforts to ensure that

the Internet and ICTs are put to use by more people

and businesses worldwide. This will not only create

wealth and jobs, but also spread knowledge, support

public authorities in providing education and training,

and contribute to greater freedom and democracy.

More information about BASIS can be found at:

www.iccwbo.org/basis

ICC set up the BASIS (Business Action to Support the

Information Society) initiative to serve as the voice of

world business on Internet governance and information

and communications technologies (ICTs) issues. These

tools are key drivers of the global economy, essential

for the development of companies and countries.

Because governments and other actors are demanding

a far greater voice in how these technologies are

managed, the decisions they make on ICT issues

will have more impact than in the past.

Through the networks of ICC, BASIS ensures that

business perspectives are taken into account. BASIS

is composed of company and association members

from various business sectors and around the world.

BASIS speaks out on a wide range of critical issues,

including:

> Internet governance matters such as data

protection, privacy, security, and the technical

management and coordination of the Internet

> liberalization of the telecoms market

> entrepreneurship

> innovation

> ICTs as tools for development

This advocacy effort draws on the substantive policy

and practical work of ICC’s Commission on E-Business,

IT and Telecoms, and the experience of ICC’s members.

Promoting an inclusive information society

Global forums are crucial

to shaping policies and

programmes that will affect

the development of the

Internet and ICTs. The input

BASIS provides to

governments, civil society

and technical experts

at these forums is essential

to ensure that future laws,

regulations and policies

are business-friendly. The

UN Global Alliance for ICTs

and Development and the

Internet Governance Forum

are two such forums where

BASIS has a strong presence.

As the main business

partner of the UN and

its agencies, ICC is adept

at brokering consensus

among business,

governments, civil society

and intergovernmental

institutions. This skill is

vital to achieve common

ground on issues affecting

the information society.

15

To every six-year-old in Ghana who wants to read, to every 30-year-old in India who wants to expand his business via the Internet,

we all share a responsibility to make these dreams a reality.David Appasamy, Chief Communications Officer, Sify Ltd. (India)

“”

14

BASIS shares business

expertise and experience

at the:

Internet Governance

Forum, an outgrowth

of previous UN summits

on the information society,

where governments,

business, civil society and

technical experts discuss

issues such as information

and network security,

and education and training

on Internet issues.

UN Global Alliance for

ICTs and Development,

which addresses ways

for the world’s poorest

countries to attract

foreign investment

and forge public-private

partnerships to help spread

the use of ICTs.

A full schedule of upcoming conferences organized by

ICC Events can be found at: www.iccwbo.org/events.

ICC Institute of World Business Law

The ICC Institute of World Business Law draws

together the finest minds in the legal profession

and offers training in international business law

and arbitration to jurists, executives and academics

through ICC Events.

The Institute, composed of a council of renowned

arbitrators and experts in international law, also acts

as a think tank working closely with ICC’s International

Court of Arbitration and ICC policy commissions.

Once a year, the Institute holds a conference where

legal experts share knowledge on a topical issue

and create doctrine, the result of which is compiled

in an annual publication, Dossiers of the Institute.

ICC brings the intelligence and state-of-the-art practices

of a world-renowned group of legal and business experts

directly to the public and to practitioners at its events.

These events cover a vast array of some of the most

pressing matters for global business, from arbitration

and dispute resolution to banking techniques

and practices, and piracy and counterfeiting.

ICC Events, a department within ICC, works closely

with ICC’s International Court of Arbitration, the most

respected body in its field, the Institute of World

Business Law, ICC policy commissions and national

committees to develop courses that are considered

the gold standard in spreading best international

business and legal practices. It also has strong ties

with worldwide bar associations and professional

organizations such as the International Federation

of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), the International

Bar Association and the International Association

of Entertainment Lawyers.

Staged all over the world, ICC events range from

large topical conferences to training sessions

for small groups. These smaller seminars and courses

share ICC’s unique expertise on commercial arbitration,

dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation,

Incoterms, banking rules (Uniform Customs and

Practice for Documentary Credits) and others.

ICC Events

”ICC events are always highly topical. They are the perfect platform

for spreading expertise essential to business worldwide – knowledge that will get business to the top.

“Serge Lazareff, Chairman, ICC Institute of World Business Law

ICC’s Institute of World

Business Law’s intensive

arbitration training courses

(known as PIDA seminars)

are unique, covering

arbitration-related topics

through the study of mock

cases. Each session is

limited to 40 participants

from business and

the legal profession,

establishing an intimate

forum for learning and

the exchange of ideas.

Participants and

speakers come from

both emerging and

industrialized economies.

1716

Understanding local legal

cultures and attitudes

is important to the success

of any arbitration.

For this reason, ICC

arbitration specialists

from Latin America gather

once a year to lead

a two-day conference

addressing topics of

major importance in

a Latin American context.

The speakers are all

practitioners who share

their first-hand experiences

and anecdotes, providing

a rare opportunity to

become fully informed

about the current state

of international

commercial arbitration

in Latin America.

19

the responsibilities of buyer and seller for delivery

of goods under sales contracts. Guide to Incoterms,

Incoterms Wall Chart and Incoterms Multimedia

Expert (CD-ROM) are also best-sellers.

Model contracts series

ICC Model Confidentiality Agreement – Model

Confidentiality Clause, ICC Model Sales Contract,

ICC Model Commercial Agency Contract, ICC Model

Distributorship Contract and ICC Model

International Franchising Contract. Many of these

titles are also available as eBooks for fast delivery.

Law and arbitration

ICC Arbitration and ICC Arbitral Awards are the

definitive reference works for international arbitration.

The ICC Institute of World Business Law also publishes

the Dossier series based on its annual conferences.

International trade

A-Z of International Trade and Export Import Basics

plus the interactive trade tool Key Words

in International Trade Interactive.

Business ethics

ICC provides topical reference works such as

Corporate Governance Worldwide, Fighting

Corruption and Private Commercial Bribery.

ICC Publications provides business with essential

resources, disseminating ICC rules and the work of

its commissions in user-friendly textbooks and eBooks.

The content of ICC publications is also derived from

the work of institutions and individual international

business experts. The specialized list covers a range

of topics including international banking, international

trade reference and terms (Incoterms), law

and arbitration, counterfeiting and fraud, model

commercial contracts and environmental issues.

Many of the best-selling titles, including those

on banking rules and trade tools, are translated into

a variety of languages and are available from ICC

national committees worldwide. National committee

contact details are listed on www.iccwbo.org.

Publications are also available in both traditional

and electronic formats from the online ICC Business

Bookstore at www.iccbooks.com

Titles include:

International banking

ICC’s set of rules for letters of credit, Uniform

Customs and Practice for Documentary Credit:

UCP 600 (2007 revision), is the most successful set of

private rules for trade ever developed. Related titles

include UCP 600 The Commentary and an updated

version of International Standard Banking Practice.

Incoterms 2000 series

Incoterms 2000 is the authoritative text on

the 13 ICC-issued standard trading terms that define

ICC Publications

The Uniform Customs

and Practice for

Documentary Credits (UCP)

were first published

by ICC in 1933. Revised

versions were issued

by ICC in 1951, 1962, 1974,

1983 and 1993. Written

into virtually every letter

of credit, the UCP are

accepted worldwide.

Revised most recently

for implementation

in 2007, UCP 600 is a

must-have reference for

practitioners worldwide.

”...UCP 600 will strengthen the respect, credibility and rightful place

of letters of credit in international commerce.Pradeep Taneja, Chairman of the ICC Bahrain Trade Finance Forum and head of Global Trade Services of Bank Muscat International, Bahrain

“

18

ICC publications are

available in both traditional

and electronic formats

from www.iccbooks.com.

”

2120

For more information about WCF, visit

www.worldchambersfederation.org

Certificates of Origin

Chambers issue and attest certificates of origin

and other trade documents – a role that is vital to

smooth international trade, especially in an increasingly

differentiated rule-of-origin trading environment

that lacks international certification standards.

WCF provides a range of tools to support chambers

in the delivery of this service, including training and

a manual on international procedures and guidelines.

WCF’s role is to reinforce and enhance the position

of chambers of commerce as the natural agent

in the issuance and attestation of certificates

of origin, and to use its global stature and platform

to develop and/or harmonize certification

standards and procedures to benefit traders

and customs administrations.

Underpinning ICC’s global influence is a worldwide

network of chambers of commerce, brought together

by ICC’s World Chambers Federation (WCF).

WCF facilitates exchange among this community

of over 12 000 chambers large and small from

all nations, helping them to strengthen their

operations at the grassroots level and to improve

their services to companies.

One of the most anticipated WCF events is the World

Chambers Congress. Held every two years in different

regions of the world, the congress helps build

the personal networks that chamber executives need

to exchange expertise. Chambers around the world

eagerly compete to host the congress.

The World Chambers Competition is a key feature

of the World Chambers Congress, and is the only

global awards programme that provides international

recognition to the most innovative projects

undertaken by chambers from around the world.

It provides a unique opportunity for chambers

to showcase originality and ingenuity and learn from

each other’s experiences. Since its inception in 2003,

the competition has provided a wide selection of case

studies not only from developed countries but also

from developing and least-developed countries.

ICC World Chambers Federation

The ATA Carnet system

is a worldwide service

that facilitates the passage

of trade across borders.

The carnet is an

internationally recognized

customs document

delivered to enterprises

to facilitate their

temporary duty-free

and tax-free imports

of professional equipment,

commercial samples

and goods to be displayed

at trade fairs, exhibitions

and similar events.

The system operates under

international customs

conventions that are

administered by the World

Customs Organization

(WCO). ATA Carnets are

issued through a network

of chambers of commerce

and similar organizations

affiliated to the ATA

international guarantee

chain, administered

by ICC through the WCF.

ATA Carnets are used

extensively by businesses

in most parts of the world.

Approximately 150 000

are issued every year

for goods valued at about

US $13.5 billion.

The World Chambers Congress brings the right people to the table for valuable discussions on issues critical to the global business community.

This is an extraordinary event for the chamber of commerce network and should not be missed.

“Tom Donohue, President and Chief Executive Officer, US Chamber of Commerce

23

”

22

Report is considered the most authoritative measure

of maritime piracy. IMB also provides pre-contract

advice on shipowners, charterers and cargo owners,

seeks recovery of losses in maritime disputes,

and verifies transport documents presented under

documentary credits to banks.

> Financial Investigation Bureau (FIB): The FIB’s proven

ability to detect financial fraud before it is

perpetrated has made it hugely valuable to banks

and other financial institutions. By giving

its members access to a vast database of shared

information, the FIB helps keep banks one step

ahead of the fraudsters. FIB is in the process

of providing an online service to members

with up-to-the-minute data to prevent fraud.

> Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau (CIB): With

the worldwide trade in counterfeit goods estimated

at some US$600 billion annually, the work of the

CIB has never been more important. It is currently

collaborating with BASCAP on a number of projects.

CIB’s Counterfeit Report sets the industry standard.

The scope and variety of criminal threats facing

business grow ever larger, with the methods

of commercial criminals becoming increasingly

sophisticated. ICC Commercial Crime Services (CCS)

provides the world business community with

a centralized crime-fighting body – one with a global

network and a sterling reputation. It draws on

the worldwide resources of its members in the fight

against commercial crime.

Based in London and comprising three distinct crime-

fighting divisions, CCS operates according to two basic

precepts: to prevent commercial crime and to

investigate and help prosecute commercial criminals.

CCS works closely with international law enforcement

officials, including Interpol, and uses its expertise

and network of members to remain one step ahead

of the criminals.

From trade finance fraud to piracy on the high seas,

banking frauds and counterfeit goods – if there

is a variant of commercial crime, CCS is aware

of it and has developed a strategy to combat it.

The specialized divisions of CCS

> International Maritime Bureau (IMB): With the

highest profile of CCS’s divisions, the IMB is the

premier anti-piracy authority in the shipping world.

Its Piracy Reporting Centre provides the most

accurate, up-to-date information to shippers about

pirate activity on the world’s oceans. The IMB Piracy

ICC Commercial Crime Services

IMB’s Piracy Reporting

Centre in Kuala Lumpur

receives its information

directly from shipmasters

plying the ocean’s trade

routes and is uniquely

placed to monitor pirate

activity, inform ship

captains and help law

enforcement authorities

detain pirates.

The IMB Piracy Report

has become the industry

standard for the monitoring

of maritime piracy around

the world. Used together

with IMB’s online piracy

map, a satellite image

showing the geography

of piracy attacks, it allows

seafarers and enforcement

officials to visualize where

and how the attacks are

occurring. By sharing

information with local law

enforcement officials,

the Centre has assisted

in the prosecution of many

pirates. Specifically,

it has helped to reduce

the number of attacks

in the Malacca Straits and

elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

The prevention of trade

finance fraud has

recently become one

of CCS’s most important

functions. CCS offers

banks a specialized range

of products capable

of detecting trade finance

fraud before it happens.

It currently cross-checks

some 2000 bills of lading

per month, from all

over the world.

Businesses are required to apply high standards of due diligence in their operations. Failure to do so could result in regulatory and criminal sanctions.

Membership of the CCS helps businesses stay in business.

“Pottengal Mukundan, Director, ICC Commercial Crime Services

In 1919, a handful of entrepreneurs decided to create an

organization that would represent business everywhere.

The group of industrialists, financiers and traders

were determined to bring hope to a world still

devastated by the First World War, which had just

ended. They resolved to replace fear and suspicion

with a new spirit of friendly international cooperation,

at least among business people. They founded

the International Chamber of Commerce and called

themselves “the merchants of peace”.

At that time the world had few working international

structures and no world system of rules to govern

trade, investment, finance or commercial relations.

That the private sector should fill the gap without

waiting for governments was an idea of breathtaking

originality. ICC’s founders were convinced that the

private sector itself is best qualified to set voluntary

global rules and standards for business.

Much of ICC’s early impetus came from its first

president, Etienne Clémentel, a former French minister

of commerce. Under his leadership, the new

organization’s international secretariat was established

in Paris. Mr Clémentel was also instrumental in creating

the ICC International Court of Arbitration in 1923.

The History of ICC

24

From the very beginning, ICC spoke out on behalf of

business in making representations to governments and

intergovernmental organizations. Three ICC members

served on the Dawes Commission, which drew up the

international treaty on war reparations in 1924, seen

as a breakthrough in international relations at the time.

A year after the creation of the United Nations

in San Francisco in 1945, ICC was granted

the highest-level consultative status with the UN

and its specialized agencies.

ICC has become the largest, most representative

business organization in the world. It is a unique

association of companies drawn from all business

sectors in every part of the world. Given today’s global

economy, its advocacy has never been more relevant

to the interests of companies everywhere.

Published in 2007 by

International Chamber of Commerce

38, Cours Albert 1er, 75008 Paris, France

Tel +33 (0) 1 49 53 28 28

Fax + 33 (0) 1 49 53 29 24

Website www.iccwbo.org

E-mail icc@iccwbo.org

ICC Publication No. 842

ISBN 978-92-842-0027-6

Copyright © 2007

International Chamber of Commerce

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

copied or translated in any form or by any means – graphic,

electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping

or information and retrieval systems – without the written permission

of the International Chamber of Commerce.

Designed by Louise Brody

Printed in France

Photo credits:

© Vincent Muracciole 2007: pages 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 (no. 4), 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22

© Jupiterimages Corporation: cover, pages 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, 15, 17, 23

© iStockphoto.com/Andres Balcazar: page 5

© Frankfurt Book Fair/Hirth: page 21

© ICC archives: pages 12-13, 24