International Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1919 by a group of entrepreneurs called themselves as “traders of the peace”. After the First World War, they decided that a new spirit is necessary in the international cooperation, where the business environment should have the driving role.

The founders of the ICC were convinced that the opening of new markets for trade and investment will reduce the international tension and will improve the climate between the nations – an idea that comes true over the time.
ICC has currently thousands of members, companies and associations, from over 130 countries, being the biggest and the most representative business organization worldwide. It is rightly considered a word-class organization, the only institutions that represents with authority enterprises from all industry sectors worldwide. ICC promotes an open international trade and investments system, focusing on the market economy.

Since its members are engaged in international business, ICC has an unrivaled authority in developing rules governing the conduct of businesses across borders. All these rules are voluntary; however they are followed by the thousands of daily transactions and have become an important part of the international trade.

One year after the establishment of the United Nations, in 1948, ICC received consultative status at the highest level within this organization and its specialized agencies.

More than 90 National Committee of ICC, from the most important capitals of the world coordinates the problems raised by the business communities and sends them to the respective governments. In the addition to their effort joins also the direct members from the countries where a National Committee doesn’t exist.

ICC has also many commissions, in which are formulated points of view, representing the issue raised by the business community. Over 500 experts make the policy and rules of ICC, following the government initiatives and in response thereto.

ICC Commissions

Arbitration and ADR
Chairman: Cristopher Newmark

The Commission on Arbitration and ADR is ICC’s rule-making body and unique think tank in the field of international dispute resolution. The commission drafts and revises the various ICC rules for dispute resolution, including the ICC Rules of Arbitration, the ICC ADR Rules, the ICC Dispute Board Rules, and the ICC Rules for Expertise. The commission holds two plenary sessions per year at which proposed rules, reports and guidelines are discussed, debated, and voted upon.

Banking
Chairman: Kah Chye Tan

With 80 years of experience and more than 600 Members in +100 Countries, the ICC Banking Commission – the largest commission of ICC, the World Business Organization – has rightly gained a reputation of the most authoritative voice in the field of trade finance. ICC Banking Commission produces universally accepted rules and guidelines for international banking practice. ICC rules and guidelines on documentary credits, UCP 600, are the most successful privately drafted rules for trade ever developed, serving as the basis of USD2 trillion worth of trade transactions a year. Examples of rules: UCP 600 – Rules and Guidelines on Documentary Credits, URDG 758 – Uniform Demand Guarantees Rules, ISBP – International Standard Banking Practice.

Commercial Law and Practice
Chairman: Bortolotti Fabio
The rules of the Commission on Commercial Law and Practice (CLP), such as Incoterms® 2010, have become part of the legal fabric of international commerce, benefiting from the direct access of ICC to the national governments.

Competition
Chairman: Paul Lugard
The ICC Commission on Competition ensures that modern business needs and markets are taken into account in the formulation and implementation of competition laws and policies.

Corporate Responsibility and Anti-corruption
Chairman: Erik Belfrage
ICC has been a pioneer in the business fight against corruption, issuing in 1977 its first version of the ICC Rules of Conduct to combat Extortion and Bribery. ICC is on the forefront in 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 Commission on Corporate Responsibility and Anti-corruption works closely with other ICC Commissions to combine expertise on a number of current issues, including: anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing (Banking Law and Practice) and public procurement and anti-corruption clauses in model contracts (Commercial Law and Policy).

Customs and Trade Facilitation
Chairman: Norman Schenk
To promote simplified customs policies and procedures as well as other measures to facilitate international trade. The ICC Commission on Customs and Trade Facilitation has over 200 members from 49 countries. Commission members comprise customs policy, transport and logistics specialists from ICC member companies and business representative organizations.

Digital Economy
Chairman: Joseph H. Alhadeff
The Commission on the Digital Economy seeks to realize the full potential of e-commerce by developing policy and practical tools that encourage competition, growth, predictability, compliance and the secured, free flow of information in cross-border trade, via the Internet and information and communication technologies.

Group on Economic Policy
Co-Chair: Victor Chu
The Group on Economic Policy (GEP) is a forum for economic and financial experts from the global business community to formulate policy recommendations to governments on macro-economic issues arising as a result of globalization and an interdependent world economy.

Environment and Energy
Chairman: Kersten Barth
The Environment and Energy Commission makes recommendations for business on significant regulatory and market issues concerning energy and environment. It acts as a voice for global business, representing the interests of ICC members in global dialogues related to these issues

Intellectual Property
Chairman: David J. Koris
The ICC Commission on Intellectual Property gathers over 300 business executives and private practitioners from 50 countries to formulate ICC’s intellectual property policy. ICC believes that intellectual property protection encourages innovation and the development of knowledge-based industries, stimulates international trade, and creates a favorable climate for foreign direct investment and technology transfer.

Marketing and Advertising
Chairman: Brent Sanders
The ICC Commission on Marketing and Advertising meets twice a year and examines major marketing and advertising related policy issues of interest to world business via issue-specific task forces and working groups that advance this work throughout the year.

Taxation
Chairman: Christian Kaeser
To promote transparent and non-discriminatory treatment of foreign investment and earnings that eliminates tax obstacles to cross-border business transactions.

Trade and Investment Policy
Chairman: James Bacchus
As trade and investment are consistently top priorities for global business, the Commission on Trade and Investment Policy represents ICC’s main working body on multilateral trade and investment policy issues.

National Committee ICC Romania

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania becomes a direct member of the ICC in 1990, representing its member’s interests especially in commission such as Arbitration, Intellectual Property, Transport and Logistics, Banking and other task forces, every time their interested requested.

The creation of a National Committee ICC Romania has been decided during the General Assembly of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania from September 24, 2001.

National Committee ICC Romania – through the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, a member of the World Chambers Federation – is an active member of the ATA Carnets and Certificate of Origin working groups.

The secretariat of the National Committee ICC Romania is assured by the Director of the Member Relations Department and aims to attract new members, in the benefit of the Romanian business community.

Contact:

Andrei Lambe

Head of Office

Tel: 037.447.43.56
Fax: 021.319.01.56
e-mail: andrei.lambe@icc-romania.ro