ICC WBO, NL membership

Making trade cheaper, faster, simpler, more sustainable and more secure

One

45 million companies

All sizes, all sectors

170 countries

Mediation, arbitration and dispute resolution

Prevention - Resolution - Neutrality

International Court of Arbitration

International Centre for ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution)

Appointing authority

Business solutions

Standards - Codes of Practice - Trade tools

Learnings - Certifications - Library

ATA Carnet

Trade Finance

International Business Regulation and Compliance

Incoterms

Model Contractors and Clauses

Certificates of Origin

ICC Trade Now Centres of Entrepreneurship

ICC Agri-Food Hubs

Shaping international frameworks

Advocacy - Global - Partnership

Strategic initiatives

Engaged - Innovative - Global/Local

Digital Standard Initiative

Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation

Week of Integrity

Welcome

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), provides a unique proposition for business.

Trade runs deep in the heart of the Netherlands – it’s an integral part of our national identity, a tradition that has shaped our past and continues to drive our future. At the Dutch chapter of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), we harness this legacy to facilitate and promote international trade. Our unique independent, multisectoral and recognised position enables us to operate at various scales.

Whether it is fostering country-tocountry collaborations through the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation or championing the voice of business on a global stage, as part of the ICC WBO, we have the opportunity to harness national position and ensure it is heard at a global level. This includes representation at COP, OECD, G20, WTO or as the sole business representative observer at the United Nations.

We recognize that global trade must evolve to meet the challenges of sustainability and climate action. Our advocacy and solutions are thus designed to balance economic growth with ecological and social responsibility, ensuring that Dutch businesses lead by example in the global market.

ICC Netherlands is dedicated to being the trusted voice of Dutch business in these critical international dialogues. We ensure that Dutch business interests have a seat at the table, influencing decisions that shape global trade policies. But our mission is also local; we are equally committed to ensuring that national decisions resonate positively with the international aspirations of Dutch businesses, ensuring Dutch business can keep its unique position in international trade.

Our advocacy is not limited to dialogue; it extends to providing tangible business solutions and offering independent dispute resolution services. At both national and international levels, our efforts are geared towards creating a conducive environment for trade, fostering growth, sustainability and securing the future of Dutch commerce in the global market.

ICC Strategic priorities

Our strategic priorities reflect a holistic approach to global commerce.

Enabling global trade

With the growing fragmentation of trade and increased protectionism, ICC drives the efforts to make global trade more frictionless and accessible for businesses of all sizes. We enable global trade by delivering business tools and rules to our network of over 45 million member companies in more than 170 countries around the world, while acting as their voice in a range of intergovernmental organisations. From the United Nations to the WTO, we drive efforts to make global trade easier and more efficient for businesses of all sizes.

Sample Achievements

• ICC has a history of establishing essential frameworks and regulations for open and inclusive international trade.

• The ICC Incoterms® rules are a landmark set of standards used in international and domestic contracts for the delivery of goods since 1936.

• ICC’s World ATA Carnet Council (WATAC) responsible for the administration of the ATA Chain since 1963, has successfully led the ATA Carnet, a recognised international Customs document.

Promoting access to justice and integrity

Access to justice, integrity and respect for the rule of law are core foundations of a functioning economy. ICC establishes frameworks for successful governance, fights corruption in all its forms and is a leader in dispute resolution with the International Court of Arbitration, the world’s leading international body for the mediation and resolution of commercial disputes.

Sample Achievements

• We made the management of arbitration cases for parties and tribunals easier with the launch of our secure online platform, ICC Case Connect. We also facilitated access to knowledge with the revamp of our ICC Online Dispute Resolution Library. In 2023, we published the ICC Rules on Combating Corruption setting a new benchmark for corporate practice in managing integrity risks throughout global value chains.

Accelerating sustainability and climate action

As the climate emergency gets ever more pressing, business can be a force for good and lead the charge towards a more sustainable future, ICC is advancing bold climate-focused actions. We believe businesses must play a role in fighting climate change and we work at the highest levels of international organisations to create the legislation that will enable them to do it in the most coordinated and impactful way.

Sample Achievements

• Official organiser of the Blue zone at cop 28; organised opened the first-ever trade day at a UN climate conference, alongside WTO Director-General Ngozi OkonjoIweala and UNCTAD Secretary General Rebeca Grynspan.

• ICC’s advocacy at COP28 has been backed by the launch of several new pioneering reports — from an in-depth study exploring pathways to boost the effectiveness of carbon pricing regimes, to an analysis of the effect of carbon pricing on inflation, to ICC’s progress report on antitrust barriers to climate action also received extensive coverage in the Financial Times.

Shaping a digital economy

As digital becomes the major driving force of the world economy, fairness in access, strong ethical standards and reliable protection from cybercrime are critical to ensure an open trusted and interoperable digital economy. ICC believes that digitalisation has the power to create more inclusive, more efficient and more sustainable global trade, which will in turn increase global prosperity, peace and stability for all.

Sample Achievements

• We helped take trade digitalisation to the next level with the launch of a Standards Toolkit for cross-border paperless trade, along with a new Certificate on Digital Trade Strategy to digitise processes at scale.

• With the ICC Digital Standard Initiative we are establishing a globally harmonised digital trade environment.

Strengthening multilateral cooperation

In the face of escalating geopolitical tensions and a shifting world order, the need for multilateralism has become more critical than ever for international trade. ICC has over 100 years of history working to strengthen cooperation between nations and different governmental organisations to enable business to promote peace and prosperity for all. We represent businesses from almost every nation in the world, and work to increase partnerships and establish international standards that promote collaboration and multilateral solutions. We engage with key international organisations like the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the OECD and the World Bank.

ICC Global Policy Commissions

ICC Policy Commissions are specialised groups that bring together members’ expertise to help shape the organisation’s policy and standard-setting activities. They also inform members about global regulatory policy making. The Commissions engage businesses worldwide, build consensus on policy issues, share intelligence, and support high-quality policy outputs that align with ICC’s strategic objectives.

Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR)

As a unique thinktank of ICC Dispute Resolution Services, the Commission pools expertise to deepen awareness and insight on practical and legal arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) issues. It contributes to refining the ICC Dispute Resolution Rules and offers practical tools, recommendations, and model clauses in reports and guides available on the ICC website and in the ICC Bulletin. The latest report and guide from the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR enhance understanding of various dispute resolution methods and how to resolve international arbitration disputes effectively.

Trade and Investment

The commission on Trade and Investment is committed to advancing and refining the global trade and investment landscape. It actively participates in shaping discussions related to the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) system. An important advocacy point is to persuade governments to permanently prohibit the imposition of customs duties on data transfers. The commission provides vital business perspectives to steer the WTO e-commerce negotiations towards a high-standard resolution. Furthermore, it takes a prominent role in global dialogues, promoting potential trade policy changes that can expedite the adoption and expansion of circular economy principles.

Anti-corruption and Corporate responsibility

The Commission provides a vital platform for sharing best practices and engaging with policymakers on key topics such as integrity, business ethics, transparency in reporting, and human rights. Central to our mission is the development of an “Integrity Advocacy Toolkit” designed to assist companies and local business networks in combating corruption effectively. We are also committed to updating the ICC Rules on Combating Corruption and the ICC Anti-Corruption Clause, reinforcing our stance against unethical practices. Additionally, the commission is pioneering the creation of the first industry framework for responsible dealings in “sensitive” markets, marking a significant step in promoting ethical business conduct globally.

Banking (trade, supply chain and export finance)

The commission is dedicated to advancing and modernizing the banking sector, particularly focusing on trade, supply chain, and export finance. A key goal is to enhance the ICC Trade Register, establishing it as the premier source of market intelligence for trade finance products, serving banks, investors, and regulators alike. We advocate for equitable capital treatment of trade finance assets in significant legislative initiatives and promote the digitization of ICC trade finance rules, including the development of standardized APIs. Our efforts also include updating financial crime and risk policies for trade finance transactions, revising the ICC’s guidelines for processing letter-of-credit transactions (“ISBP”), and providing expert guidance on ICC banking rules through opinions and technical advisory briefings.

Commercial law and practice

The commission aims to modernise and streamline commercial law and practices. It seeks to provide businesses with practical tools for efficient implementation of ICC Incoterms® rules globally, update the ICC’s collection of model contracts to reflect evolving business requirements, and advocate for the update of legal structures to accommodate and promote the digital transformation of cross-border trade processes.

Competition

The commission is focused on evolving competition policies to align with contemporary challenges and business needs. Its primary goals are to reform antitrust policies to facilitate vital industry collaboration in addressing global climate and sustainability objectives, specifically in Europe, North America and LatAm. The commission also seeks to harmonize national merger control procedures, offering businesses more clarity and consistency in international operations. Moreover, it aims to guide companies through the intricate policy landscapes associated with foreign subsidies.

Customs and Trade facilitation

Focus on enhancing customs and trade facilitation processes on a global scale. Its main objectives include offering valuable insights into pivotal World Customs Organization initiatives, especially concerning valuation and product classifications. It also aspires to be at the forefront of discussions on contemporary challenges faced by national customs agencies, with a focus on digital transformation and the circular economy. The commission promotes the enhancement of ‘trusted trader’ programs by suggesting modifications to pertinent WCO standards. Provide a platform to identify – and respond to – key in-country trade facilitation challenges utilising the full reach of ICC’s national committee network.

Environment and Energy

The commission on Environment and Energy is committed to infusing business expertise into pivotal environmental and energy-related global discussions. With an eye on the upcoming COP29, it seeks to contribute valuable insights from the business world to the UNFCCC negotiations. It also aims to craft guidance for policymakers on enhancing the efficacy of carbon pricing mechanisms, specifically addressing concerns of linkage, pricing, and allocation of proceeds. Addressing the pressing global issue of plastics pollution, the commission offers business perspectives to aid in the creation of an impactful international treaty. Additionally, the commission is in the process of piloting and refining the ICC Sustainable Trade Framework, underscoring its dedication to sustainable practices in international trade.

Digital economy

The commission aims to pioneer advancements in the digital economy with a particular emphasis on cybersecurity. The commission is also committed to offering vital business perspectives to shape the ongoing UN cybersecurity discussions. In addition, it advocates for a global alignment with the OECD’s principles concerning trusted government access to private sector-held personal data. Lastly, the commission seeks to guide the creation of international policy frameworks that promote the seamless and trustworthy flow of data, drawing on practical industry methodologies.

Intellectual property

The commission on Intellectual Property is centred on shaping and guiding the evolution of IP policy frameworks to address contemporary challenges and opportunities. It aims to offer insights on potential policy measures to counteract the rising concerns over abusive third-party financing of IP lawsuits. Additionally, the commission provides input into UN discussions to fine-tune existing legal structures that govern the nexus between scientific research, innovation, and biodiversity conservation. It is also committed to facilitating the deployment of resources that assist small businesses in maximizing the benefits from their IP holdings. Overall, the commission underscores the significance of fostering policy environments conducive to innovation.

Marketing and Advertising

The commission on Marketing and Advertising seeks to modernize and reinforce the standards and practices within the advertising industry. Its primary focus is on revising the ICC Marketing and Advertising Code to ensure it remains relevant and adaptive to contemporary challenges. The commission emphasizes the enduring importance of self-regulation in marketing and advertising, particularly in areas of increasing significance like diversity and the adoption of novel technologies. Moreover, it advocates for the widespread acceptance and application of established ICC frameworks and guidelines, such as the ICC Framework for Responsible Environmental Marketing Communications, with the aim of instilling trust in corporate claims related to sustainability.

Taxation

The commission on Taxation is dedicated to shaping coherent and effective global tax policies that cater to contemporary business and societal needs. Key objectives include offering essential business perspectives to shape international tax reforms, particularly within the OECD’s inclusive framework and the anticipated new UN convention, with a strong emphasis on tax certainty and global coordination. The commission ardently champions the creation and implementation of comprehensive mechanisms to prevent and resolve tax disputes. Additionally, in response to evolving work dynamics post-pandemic, the commission spearheads discussions on suitable tax frameworks for cross-border teleworkers. A crucial focus is also to guide businesses in understanding and navigating the intersections of tax policies with environmental objectives and the broader landscape reporting.

To help deliver better policies for better lives, across OECD member countries and all around the world, we rely on our strong engagement with many key stakeholders, including business. The OECD has long had a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with ICC. This Memorandum of Understanding will formalise and further strengthen our cooperation, in particular around exchange of information and data and the dissemination of OECD reports, policies, standards and best practices.

Mathias Cormann, OECD Secretary General

Shaping International Framework

Representation at scale.

We have been convening and connecting business to influence world trade for over 100 years, including contributing to and supporting the creation of the United Nations, helping instigate the creation of the Global Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), Global Agreement on Tariffs on Trade and Services (GATTS) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Digital Economy

ICC is leading business engagement in ongoing UN treaty negotiations in the fight against cybercrime and enhancing the resilience of the global cyber ecosystem.

ICC is leading business engagement in new treaty negotiations shaping the future of the global innovation systems.

ICC is informing ongoing UN negotiations to recalibrate existing legal frameworks governing the relationship between scientific research, innovation and biodiversity preservation

ICC is informing the development of global policy frameworks to enable ‘data free flow with trust’, leveraging practical industry approaches.

ICC is leading business engagement in intergovernmental discussions on the future governance of the Internet.

ICC is leading business engagement in intergovernmental discussions on AI, emphasizing business leadership in developing and deploying AI responsibly.

Environment and Energy

ICC serves as official UNFCCC Focal Point for business and industry non-governmental organizations (BINGO).

ICC is providing business insights to support the development of an effective and workable international treaty to curb plastics pollution.

ICC is leading business engagement in key international processes to facilitate the harmonization and effective design of carbon pricing mechanisms.

At CO28 in Dubai in 2023, ICC hosted the central business pavilion and the first-ever ‘Trade House’, jointly with the ITC, UNCTAD, and WTO.

ICC is gearing up to provide business expertise to support Azerbaijan’s UNFCCC Presidency ahead of COP29 in Baku in November 2024.

Food Security

ICC Secretary General John Denton is a member of the Finance workstream of the UN Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance (GCRG). Established in 2022, the GCRG aims to help decision-makers to mobilize solutions and develop strategies to help countries address the interlinked crisis with food, energy, and finance.

Infrastructure

ICC Secretary General Joh Denton is a member of the Executive Consultation Group of the Blue Dot Network. The Blue Dot Network is a voluntary private-sector-focused and government-supported certification scheme that aims to foster the quality infrastructure investment vital to support sustainable growth and resilient economic recovery.

Taxation

ICC is providing business insights to shape workable international tax reforms under the OECD Inclusive Framework – and the proposed development of a new UN convention – emphasizing the need for tax certainty and international coordination.

Trade and Investment

ICC Secretary General John Denton is a Member of the WTO Director General’s Business Advisory Group

ICC is providing the Emirati Chairmanship of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) with real economy-grounded perspectives on trade negotiations, and will coorganize with the WTO the Business Forum at MC13 in Abu Dhabi.

ICC is delivering business insights into key World Customs Organization workstreams, including on valuation and product classifications.

ICC is leading the global debate on potential trade policy reforms to meet global sustainability goals, including in the area of circular economy.

Business solutions, standards and code of practices

At ICC, we leverage our diverse network, skills and expertise into providing a full spectrum of practical trade tools that are essential to making business work for everyone, everyday, everywhere.

ATA Carnet - Speed through Customs with a unified document and temporary relief from import duty.

ATA Carnet is an international customs document that permits duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods for up to one year and serves as a guarantee to customs duties and taxes. ATA Carnets cut red tape by simplifying and unifying customs border crossing regulations.

Incoterms® - Standards in international and domestic contracts for the delivery of goods since 1936. Incoterms® rules are a set of standards used in international and domestic contracts for the delivery of goods. They are recognised by UNCITRAL as the global standard for the interpretation of the most common terms in foreign trade helping to avoid costly misunderstandings by clarifying the tasks, costs and risks involved in the delivery of goods from sellers to buyers.

Model Contracts and Clauses - Practical legal tools for international trade designed for businesses of all sizes.

ICC model contracts and clauses provide businesses – from start-ups to SMEs to multinationals – with practical legal tools for international trade, including export/import, confidentiality and force majeure.

Certificates of Origin - International trade documents that certify the nationality of products.

Certificates of Origin certifies that goods in a shipment are wholly obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in a particular country. Local chambers have the unique position to operate as the natural and trusted agent in issuing COs, which can issue two types:

• Non-Preferential COs

• Preferential COs

ICC Trade Now - Suite of digital trade products for MSMEs around the world.

International trade is a key driver of growth and innovation for MSME’s worldwide. Through tailored partnerships, ICC Trade Now connects MSMEs to game-changing products and services that aim to bridge the global trade finance gap by scaling innovative trade finance solutions, empowering MSMEs to access international markets, while creating new investment opportunities for financiers.

Centres of Entrepreneurship - Largest business-led ecosystem to support entrepreneurs.

The Centres of Entrepreneurship provide essential support to inspire future entrepreneurs, scale start-ups, enable participation in the digital economy and foster inclusiveness, with the overarching objective of fighting poverty and reducing inequalities.

ICC Agri-Food Hubs - Platform for partnerships, engagement and advocacy in the agri-food sector.

ICC Agri-Food Hubs facilitate discussions and active collaboration between institutions and businesses in the agrifood sector. It aims to create tools, activities, and events to share knowledge and best practices to encourage the development of innovative projects that help companies adapt to rapid changes in the global market.

Our certification programmes

Trade Finance

• Certificate in Digital Trade Strategy (CDTS)

• Global Trade Certificate (GTC)

• Certified Trade Finance Professional (CTFP)

International Business

• Incoterms® 2020 Certificate (INCO)

• Certificate in Digital Trade Strategy (CDTS)

• Export/Import Certificate (EIC)

• Free Trade Agreement Certificate (FTAC)

• E-Invoicing Solutions Certificate (ESC)

• Microfinance Associate Certificate (MAC)

Regulation and Compliance

• Certificate on the Common Reporting Standard (CCRS)

• IMB NVOCC Bill of Lading Certificate (NBL)

• Ethical Marketing and Advertising (EMA)

Why choose us?

• Innovative and flexible online learning for global trade professionals

• Market-leading professional certifications

• Tailored livecasts and webinars on indemand topics

• Relevant curriculum developed by renowned specialists

• Industry-recognised credentials

• Access to ICC’s extensive global network

Looking to train your team? Combine E-learning with our customised face-to-face training or online workshops.

Expert Trainers:

Learn and interact with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC’s) unrivalled roster of international experts either face-to-face or via live webinar.

Small Groups:

Deepen your knowledge with small ‘Working Groups’ which facilitate enriching, inspiring and interactive classes.

Improve Effectiveness:

Self-paced online learning, with concepts being reinforced in a face-toface/live classroom setting.

Personalised Sessions:

Tailor-made programme to equip participants with the know-how to manage multi-dimensional aspects of the subject matter in a supportive environment.

Interactive Learning:

Our sessions include quizzes, scenario discussions with other students and lectures are followed by Q&As with the trainer.

Industry Standard:

Earn an internationally recognised ICC certificate signed by the ICC Secretary General. Use it to signal your expertise to clients.

Mediation, Arbitration & Dispute resolution

ICC’s gold standard dispute resolution and avoidance services offer a wide choice of administered procedures as an efficient alternative to litigation for resolving domestic and international disputes. Enabling access to justice, our globally accessible and completely neutral services are available to anyone: from individuals and private sector enterprises to states and state entities.

International Court of Arbitration

The International Court of Arbitration® is the world’s leading arbitral institution. Since 1923, it has been helping to resolve difficulties in international commercial and business disputes to support trade and investment. The Court exercises judicial supervision of arbitration proceedings. Its purpose is to ensure proper application of the ICC Rules, as well as to assist parties and arbitrators in overcoming procedural obstacles.

International Centre for ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution)

The ICC International Centre for ADR offers a range of services that can be used separately, successively or even concurrently. ADR services include mediation, expert appraisal, dispute boards and DOCDEX. All ICC amicable dispute resolution solutions give parties a procedural framework for settling matters quickly, cordially and in the most costeffective way.

Appointing authority

In ad hoc cases, the arbitration will be administered by the arbitrators themselves. The parties may require the assistance of a state court or ICC as appointing authority to provide services such as the constitution of the arbitral tribunal. To provide this service, ICC applies a special set of rules: the Rules of ICC as Appointing Authority. They are designed for use in proceedings under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules or other arbitration proceedings.

ICC strategic initiatives

To address specific topics that benefit its global membership base, ICC develop additional strategy initiatives. These initiatives can take the form of additional sub-networks, sponsorship packages, advocacy partnership, etc. All the initiatives support ICC’s overarching mission and five strategic pillars.

Key strategic area ICC NL

Digital Standards Initiative

The ICC Digital Standards Initiative will resolve key challenges facing trade digitisation efforts, including:

Lack of coherent standards for developers, executives and policymakers.

Platform rulebooks that hinder crossplatform title document exchange and utilisation.

Insufficient standards to simplify blockchain and non-blockchain based integration.

Legal uncertainty regarding the acceptance of digital trade documentation.

Unclear requirements for foundational trade standards.

Recent innovations to digitise the global trading system have had the unintended consequence of fragmenting the market and the platforms used by several industries of the international supply chain and public sector agencies. There is a clear need for a trusted, independent and neutral body to lead the effort to connect digital islands.

Hosted by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Digital Standards Initiative is committed to promoting policy coherence and harmonising digital trading standards for the benefit of businesses, governments, and people everywhere. Working with established standard-setting bodies and international organisations, the ICC Digital Standards Initiative will drive greater adoption of existing standards and create new frameworks to unify digital trade processes. For an overview of existing standards that could help drive adoption, identify potential gaps, and promote interoperability, click here for a copy of The Standards Toolkit for Cross-Border Paperless Trade

Want to learn more about the subjects raised in this interview? You can find more resources in the following documents:

• The Standards Toolkit for Cross-Border Paperless Trade

• ICC DSI Trusted Technologies Principles

• ICC Identity Management Guide (chapter 8 includes details about the Legal Entity Identifier, LEI)

• The ICC MLETR Tracker, where you can see which countries have adopted this legislation.

Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation

The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation is a public private partnership for trade-led growth, supporting governments in developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) in implementing the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement. Our projects cut through red tape and end costly delays at borders by bringing together governments and businesses of all sizes as equal partners to deliver targeted trade reforms.

Ultimately, our projects boost trade competitiveness and business conditions, key drivers of inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction.

The Alliance is led by the Center for International Private Enterprise, the International Chamber of Commerce, and the World Economic Forum, in cooperation with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). It is funded by the governments of the United States, Canada and Germany.

Our Mission

To deliver targeted and measurable trade facilitation reforms through public private partnership in developing countries.

Zoom on

The Impacts

In mid-2023, life changed for the better for Vietnam’s exporters and Customs with the introduction of self-certification and electronic submission of proof of origin documents. The consolidation and harmonisation of four official circulars into a single, coherent legal instrument, encourages trade and bolsters regulatory compliance.

Electronic certificate of origin procedures increases transparency, saves time and cost, and enhances the security of the trading ecosystem. These certificates frame determinations on taxes and tariffs levelled on internationally-traded goods based on Free Trade Agreements negotiated between Vietnam and its trading partners.

As well as providing consistent guidelines for traders on origin verification, introducing the option of selfcertification removes the requirement to purchase a government-issued application form. It also allows traders to furnish this document and related Customsrelated paperwork electronically, saving the time and cost of in-person travel to government offices.

Although border inspections still take place, the new system rectifies situations where typos or small discrepancies in Harmonised System (HS) tariff codes in Certificate of Origin documents brought automatic rejection of goods by Customs, resulting in exclusion from preferential rates. Selfcertification recognises that the private sector is best placed to assess the composition and source of their exports, enabling traders to better access preferential tariff rates, if applicable, at the time of release of goods. The reforms also signal greater trust and cooperation between government and private sector, which augurs well for future border management reforms.

The Challenge

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) defines a Certificate of Origin as ‘an important international trade document that certifies that goods in a particular export shipment are wholly obtained, produced, manufactured, or processed in a particular country. It also serves as a declaration by the exporter.’

In Vietnam, issuance, process, and verification of these certificates was governed by four, separate government circulars (written statements that provide information and guidelines on laws and procedures), creating uncertainty for traders over the tariffs their goods would attract.

Combined, these circulars often produced inconsistent treatment of goods and did not adhere to international standards, undermining Vietnam’s aspirations to meet its World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement commitments in full. The procedure for obtaining certification also increased the time and cost of trade for exporters, damaging the country’s competitiveness. As well as satisfying sometimes contradictory compliance criteria, traders had to travel to government offices to purchase paper application forms and fill them in by hand. If they made any errors while entering information, they would incur the expense of buying another form to restart the process from scratch.

What We Did

The Alliance catalysed public private partnership through Public-Private Dialogues (PPDs) and workshops involving the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC), the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other key private sector stakeholders in the issuance, processing, and verification of Certificate of Origin documents.

Initially, the Alliance had sought to support Vietnam in developing a comprehensive, efficient customs bond system, expediting the conditional release of goods pending payment. However, despite making promising early headway, regulatory reform stalled.

Instead, building on PPDs that had identified other major bottlenecks to trade, the Alliance turned its attention towards reforming Certificate of Origin procedures.

Aside from facilitating vital ongoing engagement through PPDs, the Alliance provided technical assistance, ranging from business process and cost analysis, and developing new procedures to satisfy international standards. Guided by international experts at ICC World Chambers Federation, the Alliance also worked with relevant government agencies towards successful implementation. A dedicated professional on rules of origin joined the team to serve as an interlocutor and technical expert.

The result was the harmonisation and consolidation of the four government circulars governing certification, including issuance, process, and verification. The new, single Circular for the Certificate of Origin of goods entered into force on July 17, 2023.

week of Integrity

Week of Integrity

Connecting minds for a transparent, responsible and just future.

The Week of Integrity is an initiative of ICC Netherlands.

ICC WBO has been a pioneer in the fight against corruption, issuing its first version of the Rules of Conduct to combat Extortion and Bribery in 1977. ICC also played an important role in establishing the respective OECD and UN Anti-corruption Conventions. ICC is at the forefront of the development of ethics, anti-corruption and corporate responsibility advocacy codes and guidelines, providing a lead voice for the business community in this rapidly changing field.

The promotion of integrity and the debate about ethical standards requires a multistakeholder approach. Convinced of the power of combined forces, the first Week of Integrity was held in the Netherlands in 2016. Thanks to ICC vast network in the private and the public sector, civil society and education, it immediately gained a lot of interest. Since 2016, the amount of partners has grown to over 100. To promote further thinking and inspire society, five Integrity books have been successfully published as well. In the Integrity books, experts from various backgrounds share their insights and views on topics related to integrity.

ICC Netherlands’ innovative multi-stakeholder initiative has received widespread appreciation from both the private and the public sector, including that of the G20 Anti-bribery Working group where the initiative was presented as inspiration to others (Mexico, May 2018). The Week of Integrity Foundation was established in order to assure the continuity of the initiative and to emphasize its multi-stakeholder character. In the meantime, the number of countries showing interest in the adoption of the concept continues to rise which gives inspiration to continue to build a network of individuals and organizations committed to a more honest, fair and transparent world, even across borders.

Why be an ICC member? 6 USPs

Being an ICC member enables you to:

Amplify your profile

Access to international decision makers and engage with global business leaders, experts, international institutions, national governments and wider stakeholders

Influence the global priorities, rules and standards that shape the way we trade

Broaden client networks

Support your supply chains

Develop your talent and drive innovation across your business

Gather insight and intelligence

Shape the outcome of government dialogues

International status and scale of network

Depth of knowledge and expertise on trade

Neutral convener to bring all parties to the table to deliver solutions that work for everyone

Global influence

Close working relationships with government

Policy innovator

ICC in numbers

$280 bn cases per annum

$25 tn of world trade

2 000 business experts

60-80% of world trade

40% of global trade finance

The ICC International Court of Arbitration, launched in 1923 provides a global mechanism to settle international disputes 23,000 cases since 1923, $280 billion cases processed per annum

ICC rules underpin $25 trillion

ICC policy forums bring together over 2,000 world business experts to develop positions, rules and standards.

ICC Digital Standards Initiative is the coordinating body for digitalising 60–80% of world trade by 2026

ICC Banking Commission is the global selfregulating body for global trade finance governing 40% of global trade finance