Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the largest business organization working to increase trade and investment in the world, Hisarcıklıoğlu said. It was founded by a group of entrepreneurs with the slogan, “merchants of peace” to alleviate the damage caused by World War II in international trade. Over time, the ICC has gathered private sector representatives from different countries under one umbrella and has become an institution for increasing trade in the world and removing barriers to trade. Today, ICC's global network includes more than 6 million entrepreneurs, trade chambers and professional associations in more than 100 countries. In our country, the ICC Turkey National Committee, which operates under TOBB, is the eyes and ears of the Turkish business community in the international arena.”

- ICC's activities

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that activities were realized for the business world in the past, “We organized an international conference on ‘Facilitation and Standardization of Customs Procedures’ in Istanbul. Approximately 300 representatives from relevant ministries, international organizations and customs experts and the business community attended the conference. We introduced ICC Arbitration, which aims at resolving disputes between commercial parties. We provided the business community with ICC publications which are used as reference in international trade and their Turkish translations.

The ICC Turkey National Committee and the ICC International Court of Arbitration in cooperation with TOBB organized ‘Turkey ICC Arbitration Day’ in Istanbul. With over 350 guests including experts of the field, from the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice, public and private legal advisors, judges, lawyers and academics. The traditional international ‘Turkey ICC Arbitration Day’ will be held for the second time in Istanbul on February 15^th, 2019”

- State of global trade

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, pointed out that global commodity trade increased by 4.7% in 2017 and reached its highest growth rate since 2011, however, he noted that this process is under new threats. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that disagreements over global trade, increased protectionism, rising interest rates and oil prices are the main threats.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the FED is expected to continue raising interest rates for the next two years, considering strong employment in the United States and moderate inflation. “This results in both the appreciation of the dollar and the increase in interest rates, as well as returning of global liquidity to the US. Investors withdrew 14bn$ this year from emerging markets only in May and June.

In addition, the US argues that China, while becoming a member of the WTO in 2001, does not fulfill the promise of opening up markets to other member states in accordance with global rules, and continues to take restrictive measures towards the Chinese market. The ongoing salvoes between China and the United States could cause serious harm, even if it does not end the current canonical global trade order. In particular, we face the risk of weakening the strength and effectiveness of the WTO. Our country is also an important part of the global trading system.

We rank 22^nd in global exports with a share of 1.2%. Global imports are at 15% with a share of 1.6%. It is, therefore, to our benefit that institutions such as the WTO and ICC, which support canonical global trade, are powerful and effective. Next year we will celebrate ICC’s centennial anniversary. We plan to introduce and promote the responsibilities taken on by the ICC in our country and the services it provides to our business community.

Today, with globalization, cross-border trade has grown steadily; the importance of the ICC, which is the guiding force in international trade, is increasing day by day. At the same time, the ICC has undertaken very important functions, such as the work carried out on the international scene and the decisions and principles affecting the private sector being taken by the governments of many countries. ICC has played an important role in reports that the World Trade Organization and the United Nations have prepared.

In December 2016, the ICC gained United Nations Observer status, making the voice of the global business world be more prominent in the United Nations General Council. Sustainable economic growth, employment, economic cooperation, combating protectionism and the global refugee crisis are the primary areas of cooperation of the ICC in the eyes of the United Nations. Therefore, the projects carried out by our chambers for refugees have the opportunity to be transmitted to the United Nations through the ICC.”

- The Court of Appeals

TOCB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the ICC's most important service to the business world is the work carried out in the area dispute resolution. He underlined that ICC International Arbitration Board is one of the leading arbitration centers of the world. In 2017, 810 new applications were made to the ICC Arbitration Court. Hisarcıklıoğlu said that 49 of the said cases involved Turkish parties, “17 Turkish Arbitrators have been appointed. Arbitration proceedings result in a much faster process than the ordinary court process. Thus, business people save on time and they look to the future more confidently, thanks to effective and competent decision makers at the point conflict resolution.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu thanked Prof.Dr. Dr. Ziya Akıncı who has taken part in the ICC International Court of Arbitration for 4 terms since 2006 in order to continuously present the developments of the ICC on the issue of arbitration to the service of our business world and that Turkey would be represented by Prof. Dr. Ercüment Erdem in the coming term.