Conference to Examine 21st-Century Trade Policy Challenges

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Oct 16, 2014) - How are cross-border trade and investment changing in an era of sophisticated global value chains? What policies and agreements are needed to ensure that trade can generate high-quality jobs and other societal benefits? These will be among the questions addressed at a high-level conference, "Exploring New Approaches to Trade, Investment and Jobs: Insight and Impact for Business from the OECD," October 30 at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Organized by the U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB), the OECD and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, the conference will highlight the OECD's innovative work on trade and investment, and how it impacts policy, job creation and trade negotiations around the world.

"It's clear that a 21st-century trade policy must address a host of new concerns beyond 'old-school' issues like tariffs and quotas," said USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson. "While those types of trade barriers still exist, their importance is fast being eclipsed by the growth of global value chains and a variety of other challenges."

Keynote remarks at the conference will be delivered by U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. Other speakers include:

• Cathy Novelli, under secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment
• Mari Kiviniemi, deputy secretary general, OECD, former prime minister of Finland
• Yonov Agah, deputy director general, World Trade Organization
• Susan Schwab, Mayer Brown, former U.S. trade representative
• Harold McGraw III, chairman of McGraw Hill Financial
• James Bacchus, Greenberg Traurig, former member of Congress.

The event will bring together experts from the OECD, U.S. and foreign governments, and business. Participants will draw upon the innovative research and policy discussions coming from the OECD -- including its Services Trade Restrictiveness Index, OECD-WTO efforts to measure trade in value-added, and studies on the importance of global value chains. More information is available at www.uscibtrade.org.

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.