International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

Description of publication

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the world business organization that works to promote greater freedom of world trade, to harmonize and facilitate business and trade practices, and to represent the business community at international and intergovernmental levels. Whether settling contractual disputes, protecting business from commercial fraud and counterfeiting, or fostering joint ventures in shipping, the ICC provides concrete and practical help to the world trading community in the solution of everyday problems. Regularly scheduled ICC conferences and symposia and training are important features of these services. ICC seminars in Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America deal with, for example, the practical and technical aspects of commercial arbitration, international contracts, and banking. ICC-sponsored training programs for developing-country professionals are regularly organized, often with third parties.

The ICC was founded in 1919 by a handful of farsighted business leaders. Today it includes thousands of member companies and associations from over 130 countries. National committees in all major capitals coordinate with their membership to address the concerns of the business community and to put across to their governments the business views formulated by the ICC.

Some ICC Services
The ICC International Court of Arbitration (Paris).
The ICC International Centre for Expertise (Paris).
The ICC International Bureau of Chambers of Commerce-IBMM (Paris).
The ICC Institute of International Business Law & Practice (Paris).
The ICC Center for Maritime Co-operation (London).
ICC Commercial Crime Services (London), grouping:
The ICC Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau.
The ICC Commercial Crime Bureau.
The ICC International Maritime Bureau.

ICC Publishing, the publishing subsidiary of the International Chamber of Commerce, produces and sells the works of ICC commissions and experts. It also offers guides and corporate handbooks on topics ranging from banking practice, international commercial arbitration, and joint ventures in eastern and central Europe, to advertising, environment, and telecommunications. Some 100 titles (in English and French)-designed for anyone interested in international trade-are now available from ICC Publishing. Certain titles also exist in other languages.

One popular ICC publication is Guide to Incoterms. This popular companion guide explains the respective obligations of the buyer and the seller when using one of the Incoterms (e.g., FOB, CIF, Ex-Works, etc.) in a commercial transaction and shows how a given term is applied in a sales contract. For information, call (212) 206-1150; fax (212) 633-6025.

There are two possible ways of becoming a member of the International Chamber of Commerce: either through (1) affiliation with an ICC national committee or group or (2) direct membership where no national committee or group exists.

What ICC Has Done for Business
Arbitration
The ICC created the world's first global commercial arbitration system. For more than three-quarters of a century, the ICC International Court of Arbitration has guaranteed companies an impartial and reliable means of settling commercial disputes.
Documentary Credits
The ICC established the rules on documentary credits that banks throughout the world apply daily in letter of credit operations.

Incoterms
Every day, standard trade terms like FOB and CIF are used in countless international business transactions. The ICC standardized these and other Incoterms and provides guidelines on how to use them.

ATA Carnets
The ICC issues its own passports for merchandise. ATA Carnets allow billions of dollars' worth of goods to cross borders temporarily for exhibition at trade fairs or as commercial samples.

Trade
More than 120 chief executives of top global companies publicly backed the successful ICC campaign for a far-reaching trade liberalization pact under the Uruguay Round. The negotiations also led to the creation of the World Trade Organization.

Customs
Customs modernization is now on the WTO's working agenda following ICC insistence that governments tackle border delays as one of the major remaining barriers to international trade.

Environment
The ICC's Business Charter for Sustainable Development, backed by more than 2,000 companies, helps companies to introduce innovative measures to protect the environment.

Standards
ICC experts played a key role in devising the voluntary international standard on environmental management (ISO 14001) now being implemented by companies throughout the world.

Self-regulation
The ICC pioneered business self-regulation with its widely used marketing codes. In 1977 it drew up the first business code of conduct against corruption in international transactions.

Crime Prevention
ICC Commercial Crime Services has saved companies that are exposed to shipping or financial frauds from huge and potentially crippling losses.

www.iccwbo.org
icc@iccwbo.org

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

For more information, call
International Chamber of Commerce
Phone: +33 1 49 53 28 28
Fax: +33 1 49 53 28 59