Chamber of commerce leaders from Europe, North America, Africa, the Arab world, Latin America and Asia today threw their weight behind an ICC-led campaign to urge governments to urgently revive global trade talks.
Meeting at the 3rd World Chambers Congress in Quebec City, the heads of Eurochambres, the US Chamber of Commerce, Latin America's Asociacion Iberoamerica de Camaras de Comercio (AICO), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the General Union of Arab Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce (CACCI) and the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (NAFCOC) agreed to lobby their governments on the pressing need for a successful outcome to the Doha trade round.
The initiative followed a meeting here of the World Council and Executive Board of ICC (International Chamber of Commerce), where CEOs and international business leaders gathered to assess the implications of the recent failure in Cancun of the WTO's global trade talks.
The ICC World Council and Executive Board - comprising CEOs and business leaders from 80 countries - unanimously agreed, in the words of ICC Chairman, Jean-René Fourtou, "that a speedy renewal of trade negotiations is necessary to bolster a weak global economy."
Chambers will now join ICC's international campaign to bring WTO members back to the trade negotiating table by lobbying their national governments on the urgent need to relaunch talks.
The trade campaign brings together the largest number of ind
ividual companies and chambers of commerce ever united for a single cause. Latin America's AICO alone accounts for more than 2000 chambers of commerce in the hispanic speaking world.
In a joint statement, the chamber leaders said the completion of the WTO's Doha Development Round was in the interests of businesses everywhere.
"Businesses large and small consider the recent failure of WTO trade talks in Cancun as a great disappointment," the statement says. "It would have provided the world economy with a much-needed confidence boost.
"We live in a global economy. Trade across borders is an issue close to the heart of all businesses, no matter how large or small. The desire for a rules-based multilateral trading system is common to companies in all sectors, of all sizes, and in all corners of the globe.
"There is no better way to ensure economic growth, and by extension, greater prosperity for people in all parts of the world. This is not something business would like to see happen, it is something we need to see happen.
"We use this meeting in Quebec City to call on our governments to pursue with vigour a successful outcome of the Doha Development Round. Business wants governments to return to the trade negotiating table as a matter of urgency. The stakes are too high, the world cannot afford to see this process fail."
Chamber leaders in Quebec City who today signed on to the statement include:
- Jean-René Fourtou - Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
- Dr Christoph Leitl - President, Eurochambres
- Joaquin Zevallos - President, Asociacion Iberoamerica de Camaras de Comercio (AICO)
- Nancy Hughes Anthony - President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC)
- Adnan Kassar - President, General Union of Arab Chambers of Commerce and Industry
- Larry Liebenow - Chairman, US Chamber of Commerce
- Webster Kiang - Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce (CACCI)
- Sipho Mseleku - CEO, National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The 3rd World Chambers Congress in Quebec City has attracted some 800 chamber executives from 88 countries.
For further information on the Congress, or ICC, visit:
www.iccwbo.org