ICC PODCAST SERIES - THE COVID-19 RECOVERY - EPISODE 2

In this next episode in our COVID-19 Recovery podcast series, Chris Southworth, Secretary General of ICC United Kingdom exchanges views with business leaders in Brazil, France and USA about the impact on businesses during these uncertain times in our speakers’ respective countries.

 They discuss:

• The importance of the WTO in supporting the recovery of global trade (particularly pertinent given the Director General’s recent departure from the institution);

•  The impact on business, the economy and society;

• The probability and dangers attached to a protectionist backlash during the recovery period;

• Progress on key agendas, in particular, digitalisation and sustainability.

ICC PODCAST SERIES - THE COVID-19 RECOVERY - EPISODE 1

COVID-19 has created an economic crisis of global proportions with a deep recession or depression widely forecast across many of the large economies. Is there a consensus emerging on what the global economy will look like post COVID-19, how we re-boot global value chains or what the opportunities are to strengthen coherence on global policy priorities?

After a round of intensive consultations and discussions with international companies based in the UK, there appears to be an appetite for bold thinking and to use the crisis as a springboard to reset the policy narrative around a more inclusive and sustainable global economy and to capitalise on the opportunity to prioritise climate action and digitisation policies that will set us on the right path for the future.

In this episode, ICC United Kingdom interviews James Pearson, CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sandra Uwera, CEO of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Business Council (COMESA Business Council), and Ho Meng Kit, the CEO of the Singapore Business Federation to find out what is going on in Australia, Africa and Singapore. 

Chris Southworth talks to LBC Radio about businesses’ financial needs during the Coronavirus crisis

Chris Southworth outlines the importance of bold and coordinated government action to save businesses from going under during the COVID-19 crisis, to Andrew Pierce on LBC Radio:

He emphasises:

- The need to remove trade barriers such as taxes and tariffs in order to keep trade moving throughout the crisis;

- The need for G20 countries to coordinate economic measures to protect businesses and the global economy;

- The need for clarity by the government on how businesses can collect support packages before it is too late.

Chris Southworth outlines the complexities of a US-UK trade deal with LBC’s Maajid Nawaz

Chris Southworth talks to Maajid Nawaz around Trump's assertion that the US couldn't strike a trade deal with the UK under the current terms of the proposed Brexit deal. He outlines:

- Where the US's concerns are;

- The reasons why TTIP failed, and how to prevent similar 

- The need for transparency in negotiations.

Listen to the full clip here.

Chris Southworth talks WTO rules, trade negotiations and the realities of a no-deal Brexit with LBC’s James O’Brien

Chris Southworth elaborates on the realities of a no-deal Brexit from a trade perspective with LBC Radio's James O'Brien. 

Discussion points included: 

- The insufficiency of the GATT24 trading "solution";

- The economic impact of a no-deal Brexit;

- Trading under WTO rules and what that actually means;

- The likelihood of a trade deal with the US. 

 Also covered by LBC here and here. 

Chris Southworth compares the Tory leadership candidates from a trade perspective with Nick Ferrari on LBC

Nick Ferrari invites Chris Southworth to speak on the viability of Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson's Brexit "solutions" from a trade perspective, and to shed light on Boris Johnson's assertion that the UK can have tariff-free trade with the EU following Brexit according to GATT 24. 

Discussion points:

- The crisis ongoing within the global trading system: protectionism, consumer behaviour, trade growth, sustainability and technology.

- The UK's credibility in the trade sphere;

- Neither candidate are presenting a viable solution from a trade perspective.

essDOCs CEO Alexander Goulandris explains the importance of trade digitalisation

Alexander Goulandris talks to ICC United Kingdom's Chris Southworth about the importance of digitalisation, ICC's Digital Trade Roadmap and the barriers it's facing.

Audience: International and domestic policy makers, corporates and SMEs

We are now broadcasting to over 130 countries worldwide from Sri Lanka to the USA, so if you would like to come and speak on a topical world business issue, please let us know by emailing press@iccwbo.uk.

To keep up to date with news and updates at the ICC United Kingdom, follow us on Twitter!

S&P Global Rating’s Michael Wilkins discusses how the public and private sectors are responding to climate change

In light of the UN’s High-level political forum on sustainable development, ICC United Kingdom Secretary General Chris Southworth, talks to Michael Wilkins, Head of Sustainable Finance, S&P Global Ratings, regarding how the public and private sectors are enabling sustainable finance, the UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs) and resilient societies.

Discussion topics:

• How leading businesses are responding to the challenge of sustainable development
• The challenges to enabling sustainable finance in both the private and public sectors
• How cities and policymakers can enable the UN's SDGs

Audience: International and domestic policy makers, corporates and SMEs

We are now broadcasting to over 130 countries worldwide from Sri Lanka to the USA, so if you would like to come and speak on a topical world business issue, please let us know by emailing press@iccwbo.uk.

To keep up to date with news and updates at the ICC United Kingdom, follow us on Twitter!

Santander’s John Carroll talks increasing SME access to international markets

Following the release of ICC's 10th annual Global Survey on Trade Finance, Chris Southworth, ICC United Kingdom Secretary General talks to John Carroll, Head of Products and International Business at Santander UK, about the trade finance process and banks' role in driving economic growth.

Discussion topics:

• The journey SMEs in both developed and emerging markets must undergo to trade abroad

• The obstacles companies face when attempting to access international markets and trade finance, as well as how these can be overcome

• How banks’ utilisation of blockchain is playing a role in alleviating the trade finance gap

Audience: SMEs, international trade experts, corporates, policy makers

We are now broadcasting to over 130 countries worldwide from Sri Lanka to the USA, so if you would like to come and speak on a topical world business issue, please let us know by emailing press@iccwbo.uk.

To keep up to date with news and updates at the ICC United Kingdom, follow us on Twitter!

Digital trade: Moving forward together

Chris Southworth, ICC United Kingdom Secretary General talks to Gabriel Petrus, ICC Brazil Executive Director, and Serigne Mansour Gaye, President of the Senegal-UK Chamber of Commerce on how digital trade is affecting businesses and trade in Brazil and Senegal.

Discussion topics:

• How digital trade is benefiting SME growth, with specific insights from Brazil and Senegal

• Brazil's role driving digital trade

• How we can help strengthen the voice of African business groups in Geneva

• Barriers to be overcome with respect to digital trade and data localisation 

Audience: Policymakers, Directors, Boards, International businesses, trade exerts, NGOs

We are now broadcasting to over 130 countries worldwide from Sri Lanka to the USA, so if you would like to come and speak on a topical world business issue, please let us know by emailing press@iccwbo.uk.

To keep up to date with news and updates at the ICC United Kingdom, follow us on Twitter!