ICC Podcast on Trade and Development: Making Trade Work for Everyone

The recovery from COVID-19 has fostered consensus around the need to build back better and do things differently to ensure the benefits of trade are more fairly distributed in the future. But the question is, how?

In this podcast episode, ICC’s Chris Southworth speaks to Rosa Crawford, Policy Advisor at the Trade Union Congress, Ruth Bergan, Senior Advisor for the Trade Justice Movement, and Ben Richards, International Officer for Unite the Union, on how to ensure trade works for everyone in the context of COVID-19 recovery and in a post-Brexit world.

Discussion points included:

• Making trade more inclusive, so that it benefits everyone;
• The upcoming trade deals that could be set to threaten our development priorities;
• The implications of non-business stakeholders being excluded from the government’s trade advisory groups, and thus from having a voice in the UK’s trade deals;
• Ways to strengthen cooperation and engagement.

If you are interested to hear more on this topic and join the conversation, we will be discussing it further at the ICC Trade and Prosperity Week starting on the 19^th October. Register today at https://www.iccwboconference.uk/

Chris Southworth discusses the complexities of the government’s Internal Market Bill with LBC’s Andrew Castle

Chris Southworth speaks to LBC Radio’s Andrew Castle on the government’s introduction of a new bill attempting to override the Brexit withdrawal agreement, from a trade perspective.

Discussion points included:

• Whether the introduction of the Internal Markets Bill is necessary
• The consequences of the bill on the UK’s international reputation and other trade agreements
• The need for certainty among businesses to plan properly for the end of the transition period
• The importance of honouring the Good Friday Agreement
• The EU’s response to the introduction of the Internal Markets Bill

The UK’s Trade Agenda: how we can progress in a collaborative, inclusive, yet sustainable manner

With the UK in the midst of establishing its post-Brexit trading relationships, much media attention has been given to the UK’s trade agenda in relation to sustainability, climate change and the environment. Maintaining high standards, whilst negotiating trade deals, has been a hot topic –particularly in relation to the EU and the US.

In our latest podcast episode, Chris Southworth, Secretary General at the ICC United Kingdom, exchanges views with Gail Soutar, Chief EU Exit and International Trade Adviser at the National Farmers’ Union, and Gwen Buck, Policy Adviser at the Green Alliance, on how to make progress on the trade and environment agenda in a collaborative and inclusive way – and more importantly, one that works for everyone.

Discussion points include:

• The alignment of trade and climate objectives
• The points of difference between business and NGOs on trade and environment
• How can the UK maintain environmental/food standards and build public trust in trade negotiations with larger economic powers
• The opportunities for the UK as hosts of COP26 next year

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.

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