Keeping International Contracts Fair, Flexible, and Future-Proof 

This commission ensures business contracts and model clauses evolve alongside trade and legal developments. From model contracts on agency, force majeure, and sustainable transactions to guidance on ESG compliance and corruption risk, ICC continues to provide essential legal tools for international business. 

🔹 Key Updates: 

• The revision of the ICC Model Contract for the International Sale of Goods is underway, reflecting modern business realities such as digital contracting, sustainability, and force majeure risks. 

• ICC is finalizing new model clauses for negotiating and drafting sustainable contracts, providing practical tools to integrate ESG criteria into commercial agreements. 

• The CLP Commission is contributing to global discussions on responsible business conduct, engaging with the OECD and other partners on business and human rights. 

• Work has also begun on a project examining the use of model contracts in digital trade, including interoperability and electronic signature standards. 

🔹 Supporting Legal Certainty in Turbulent Times: 

• The Commission is monitoring trends in contract performance and dispute escalation resulting from supply chain volatility and climate transition. 

• It continues to provide business input to UNCITRAL and UNIDROIT on commercial law reform and emerging technologies. 

🔹 Opportunities to Engage: 

• Join the working group on the revised Model Sale of Goods Contract or sustainable contracting. 

• Contribute use cases on how businesses are integrating ESG into their contractual practices. 

• Stay tuned for upcoming consultations and new publications expected later this year. 

Creating a Trade System That Works for All ICC’s Trade and Customs Commission is pushing for practical reforms to simplify border procedures, promote trusted trader programs, and improve transparency. It remains a key platform to shape WTO modernization efforts and defend multilateral trade. 

The Commissions outlined a robust agenda aimed at modernizing the multilateral trade system, addressing mounting protectionism, and ensuring that trade remains a tool for resilience, sustainability, and shared prosperity. 

At the heart of the workstream is ICC’s campaign to revitalize the global trading system, particularly in the lead-up to the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in 2026. Through strategic advocacy, data-driven insights, and global collaboration, ICC is shaping the business voice on key trade debates. 

🔹 Key Updates: 

• A new suite of policy briefs addresses urgent topics: the erosion of the WTO, exchange rate misalignments, trade-related subsidies, and the economic impact of WTO dissolution on developing countries (in partnership with Oxford Economics). 

• ICC is actively engaged in shaping outcomes on trade and climate, including the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), deforestation regulations, and a new set of Ecoterms® defining sustainability in trade. 

• The WTO e-commerce moratorium and digital trade negotiations remain high on the agenda, as ICC works to ensure an open, rules-based digital economy. 

• The Customs Commission is advancing work on rules of origin, Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programs for SMEs, and an integrity at borders initiative with the WCO. 

• A virtual meeting of the Global Customs Commission will take place on 2–3 July 2025, open to all nominated experts. 

🔹 Opportunities to Engage: 

• Nominate trade and customs experts to ICC’s Global Commissions. 

• Join national-level advocacy to promote ICC policy positions. 

• Participate in upcoming dialogues and provide feedback on draft publications. 

• Share ICC tools and insights with Dutch policymakers to build momentum ahead of MC14. 

Global trade reform needs business leadership—and ICC members are uniquely positioned to deliver it. 

Making Trade Simpler, Faster, and More Inclusive 

The Alliance’s public-private approach is helping countries implement the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. With 36 projects in 30+ countries, the Alliance is working on reducing clearance times, automating processes, and engaging small businesses—especially in Africa and Latin America. 

🔹 What’s New: 

• New and upcoming projects across Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, including Bangladesh, Cameroon, Mauritania, Moldova, and potentially Ukraine and Egypt. 

• A growing partnership with UNICEF to streamline medical imports, improving access to vaccines and health products in up to 10 countries. 

• A regional initiative with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to scale up digital phytosanitary certificates (ePhyto) across Africa. 

🔹 Opportunities for ICC Members: 

• Connect local businesses with GATF projects to share trade bottlenecks and shape reform. 

• Participate to roundtables or workshops on trade facilitation challenges with Alliance support. 

🌐 Learn more | @GATFnews 

Laying the Foundations for Seamless Digital Trade DSI is scaling digital trade adoption by setting standards, building trust, supporting legal reform, and boosting capacity. Recent highlights include the global rollout of the Key Trade Data Glossary (KTDDE), a reliability framework for digital platforms, and support for MLETR adoption in over 20 countries. 

The DSI’s four-pillar vision—standards, trust, legal reform, and capacity—has gained impressive traction, offering both governments and businesses a structured roadmap to transition from paper to interoperable, secure digital trade. 

🔹 Key Highlights: 

• The Key Trade Data Glossary (KTDDE) is emerging as a global baseline for standardised trade data. Implementation guides now support real-time data exchange across over 160 million businesses worldwide. 

• DSI launched a reliability assessment framework for digital trade platforms, a major step toward scalable digital trust. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Digital Governance Council of Canada, aims to help solution providers, regulators, and businesses benchmark the reliability of digital systems. 

• Significant momentum is building behind the adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR). DSI is currently engaged in 20+ countries including Thailand, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Nigeria, offering legal reform technical support to governments. 

In May 2025, the Dutch government submitted a bill to Parliament to formally recognise the legal validity of electronic bills of lading (eBLs)—an important first step toward aligning with MLETR principles. While the proposal stops short of full MLETR adoption, it lays the groundwork for broader digital trade reform. A three-year review clause was included to explore expansion to other types of electronic transferable records. ICC Netherlands and partners continue to advocate for full implementation to unlock the benefits of paperless trade across sectors. 

• Through more than 50 global training sessions in 2024, DSI has strengthened its presence in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. A professional certification—Certificate in Digital Trade Strategy (CDTS)—has also been relaunched via ICC Academy to boost private sector knowledge. 

🔹 Opportunities to Engage: 

• Dutch businesses are encouraged to support ICC Netherlands’ advocacy for full MLETR implementation by endorsing the upcoming White Paper on Digital Trade Reform, which outlines the benefits and practical pathways for adoption in the Netherlands. 

• Companies can help raise awareness by sharing practical use cases where paperless trade would reduce costs, improve efficiency, or support sustainability goals. 

• Members are invited to join ICC-hosted events and working groups to engage policymakers, especially in the lead-up to the three-year legislative review. 

• Interested firms can also adopt ICC’s reliability tools to assess their digital trade readiness and gain visibility in the broader European digital trade ecosystem. 

Global Tax Commission 

Shaping Fair and Predictable Global Tax Rules The Commission is actively contributing to the new UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation. Its advocacy secured business access to negotiations and is shaping global protocols on service taxation and dispute resolution. 

🔹 UN Tax Convention – A New Era The presentation outlined the road to the new UN Tax process—initiated during the 2015 Addis Ababa Financing for Development Conference and formalized through UNGA Resolution 78/230 in 2023. The process now advances under an intergovernmental committee tasked with drafting a binding Framework Convention and two early protocols: 

1. Cross-border taxation of services 

2. Tax dispute prevention and resolution 

Through strategic engagement, ICC successfully advocated for business participation to be formally included in the negotiation process—a significant achievement that opens the door for private sector input in shaping international tax norms. 

🔹 What’s Next The ad hoc committee will hold three formal sessions annually from 2025–2027, with the first rounds in August 2025 (New York) and November 2025 (Nairobi). ICC coordinates accreditation for business representatives and supports members with talking points and logistics. 

Beyond UN engagement, the Global Tax Commission remains active in key regional platforms (EU, LAC, and potentially ATAF and Asia), while also monitoring developments such as the U.S. Section 899 proposal and its implications for foreign direct investment. 

🔹 Opportunities to Engage 

• Participate in joint regional webinars to engage with business and government stakeholders. 

• Contribute to public consultations. 

• Respond to the upcoming global survey on tax and sustainable investment (summer 2025). 

• Stay informed through regular briefings, including updates on VAT, digital taxation, and telework. 

ICC members are strongly encouraged to seize these openings to shape fair, transparent, and growth-friendly global tax frameworks. 

Business Integrity 

The Integrity Commission is leading ICC’s work on anti-corruption, whistleblowing, responsible business conduct, and ethical trade. New tools include updated corruption rules, SME guidance, and model clauses for responsible behavior in fragile settings. 

The #WeAreICC presentation on Business Integrity reaffirmed ICC’s longstanding commitment to advancing responsible business conduct, anti-corruption, and the rule of law. As global uncertainties and geopolitical tensions rise, business integrity is more critical than ever—not only as a matter of ethics but also for risk mitigation, trust-building, and sustainable development. 

🔹 What ICC Is Doing At the heart of this work is the ICC Global Commission on Business Integrity, a platform uniting companies and policymakers to drive consistent and effective integrity standards across jurisdictions. ICC acts as a global standard-setter, notably through the 2023 revised ICC Rules on Combating Corruption, which now include clear mandatory provisions, guidance for implementation, and compliance program elements. 

New and updated tools have also been launched: 

• ICC Anti-Corruption Clause – to be voluntarily included in contracts; 

• ICC Whistleblowing Guidelines – practical guidance for safe speak-up environments; 

• Due Diligence Guidance for SMEs, Gifts and Hospitality Guidelines, and the RESIST Tool for anti-bribery scenarios; 

• ICC Guidance on Responsible Business in Challenging Contexts – offering a strategic and tactical approach to integrity in fragile or conflict-affected settings. 

🔹 Opportunities to Engage 

• Participate to the Dutch mirror committee and Week of Integrity events.  

• Businesses can embed ICC tools into compliance programs or legal frameworks. 

• Members are encouraged to join the next Global Commission meeting (October 2025, virtual).

Global Banking Commission 

Powering Sustainable Trade Finance 

The Commission continues to set rules and provide data that support trade finance reliability and regulatory fairness. Priorities include sustainability frameworks, eRules, and digital innovation in collaboration with DSI. 

The ICC Global Banking Commission, the world’s leading standard-setting body for trade finance, used its #WeAreICC Week briefing to reaffirm its commitment to building resilient financial frameworks for global trade. As trade finance demand grows amid shifting supply chains, climate obligations, and digitalisation, the Commission is accelerating work across four priority areas: access, risk, trust, and transformation. 

🔹 Key Areas of Focus: 

• Trade Finance Modernization: ICC continues to guide the industry with updated rules, opinions, and technical guidance, while aligning on a clear and consistent definition of trade finance to counter regulatory fragmentation. 

• Sustainability: The ICC Principles for Sustainable Trade Finance (PSTF)—developed with banks and in collaboration with the ICC Environment & Energy Commission—establish a common framework to define and assess sustainable trade across industries and regions. 

• Digitisation & Innovation: In partnership with the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI), the Commission is advancing API standards and eRules to support paperless trade finance systems. A working group on digital trade finance is actively pursuing global adoption. 

• Risk Data & Advocacy: The ICC Trade Register continues to offer unmatched data on the low-risk nature of trade finance, reinforcing advocacy for proportionate capital treatment under global banking regulations. 

🔹 Opportunities to Engage: 

• Nominate experts to join ICC’s technical taskforces. 

• Promote ICC’s banking rules and advocacy papers to regulators. 

• Contribute national data to strengthen the ICC Trade Register. 

• Join capacity-building efforts and promote uptake of sustainable trade finance frameworks. 

As global trade faces tighter financing conditions and regulatory pressures, the Banking Commission is more relevant than ever in bridging private sector needs and public policy.

Agri-Food Initiative 

Enabling Sustainable and Inclusive Food Systems The ICC Agri-Food Initiative is a multistakeholder platform supporting food systems transformation. Work focuses on sustainable trade, finance, climate adaptation, and innovation—with a major milestone coming at the Committee on Food Security in October 2025. 

The #WeAreICC presentation on the ICC Agri-Food Initiative laid out a clear vision: enable food systems transformation through cross-sectoral cooperation, global standards, and inclusive trade. This unique platform, convened by ICC, connects business leaders, farmers, financiers, and policymakers to drive practical solutions for a resilient and sustainable agri-food economy. 

🔹 Key Highlights: 

• The initiative responds to a triple challenge: feeding a growing population, preserving the environment, and ensuring fair market access. 

• It is structured around four thematic tracks: Food Trade, Climate, Finance, and Innovation—supported by a cross-cutting Policy & Advocacy track. 

• Work is underway on practical guidance for trade policy design, sustainable financing models, and tools for agri-business resilience in vulnerable regions. 

• The platform has already mobilized over 150 experts, including partners from WBCSD, WEF, UNDP, IFAD, and major agribusinesses. 

🔹 2025 Priorities: 

• A flagship event at the UN Committee on Food Security (October 2025, Rome) will launch a policy paper with concrete business-driven recommendations. 

• Continued input into UNFCCC, COP30, and WTO dialogues on food systems and climate-smart trade. 

• Expansion of regional dialogues and national committee engagement to localize solutions. 

🔹 Opportunities to Engage: 

• Nominate experts to the thematic tracks and contribute case studies or policy inputs. 

• Help identify food system barriers in supply chain—trade, financing, or regulation. 

• Participate to knowledge-sharing sessions with ICC’s Agri-Food team. 

In a time of escalating food insecurity, ICC’s Agri-Food Initiative offers a rare, solutions-driven forum where business plays a central role in fixing broken food systems—globally and locally. 

🌾 [Explore more: iccwbo.org] | #AgriFoodForChange 

Dispute Resolution Services (DRS) 

Dispute Resolution: ICC Charts a Strategic Path Forward for DRS Services 

During the We are ICC Week, a dedicated strategy session shed light on the latest trends in ICC Dispute Resolution Services (DRS) and outlined upcoming initiatives designed to reinforce ICC’s role as the world’s leading institution for business dispute resolution. 

In 2024, ICC saw nearly 2,850 new arbitration and ADR cases filed, covering a record $102 billion in new disputes. These figures not only reflect ICC’s global reach—spanning every continent and increasingly involving state-owned entities—but also show growing reliance on ICC rules, particularly the Expedited Procedure Provisions (EPP), now under revision. 

Looking ahead, ICC’s work will be anchored around several priority actions: 

• A major revision of the ICC Arbitration Rules is underway, incorporating input from over 135 submissions received through national committees. A redline version is now in circulation with working sessions planned in July and a new set of rules expected to enter into force in 2026. 

• Expansion of ICC DRS digital capabilities with the launch of “ICC Case Connect,” a secure digital case management platform powered by Opus2. 

• Development of regional ICC Hearing Centres, enhancing in-person arbitration infrastructure in key locations. 

• Advancing thought leadership on urgent issues including AI in dispute resolution and corruption risks in arbitration, via newly established task forces. 

• Continued commitment to diversity and inclusivity, with increased female representation (46%) and stronger corporate in-house participation among appointed delegates. 

Opportunities to Engage 

Members are encouraged to: 

• Participate in the ICC Rules revision process and nominate delegates for July’s working sessions. 

• Share feedback to help shape future dispute resolution tools and guidance. 

• Propose or join (new) task forces and use ICC’s DRS roadmap to align local actions with global goals. 

Dispute resolution is more than legal certainty—it’s business continuity. ICC ensures companies, big and small, have access to world-class, trusted solutions. 

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