About ICC

Who we are

ICC is the world business organization, helping businesses of all sizes and in all countries to operate both internationally and responsibly.

With a global network of over 6 million members in more than 100 countries, we work to promote international trade, responsible business conduct and a global approach to regulation through our unique mix of advocacy and standard setting activities – together with market leading dispute resolution services.

We represent business interests at the highest levels of intergovernmental decision-making, whether at the World Trade Organization, the United Nations or the G20 ensuring the voice of business is heard. It is this capacity to bridge the public and private sectors that sets us apart as a unique organization, responding to the needs of any player involved in international commerce.

We also have a long history of formulating the voluntary rules by which business is conducted every day from internationally recognised Incoterms rules to the UCP 600 Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credit that are widely used in international finance.

In addition, we specialise in world-class business and legal training and are an industry-leading publisher of practical tools for international business, banking and arbitration.

So, from the small e-commerce start-up in Istanbul to the multinational software company in Delhi, businesses worldwide can benefit from ICC’s rules and mechanisms for the conduct of trade.

Our Mission 

Everything we do at ICC aims to promote international trade and investment as vehicles for inclusive growth and prosperity.

From resolving disputes when they arise in international commerce to supporting global efforts to streamline customs and border procedures, we support multilateralism as the best way to address global challenges and reach global goals.

Having witnessed the power of international commerce to lift millions of people out of poverty, today we have our sights set on the future of globalisation, working to promote inclusive and sustainable growth to the benefit of all.

We work to promote international trade, responsible business conduct and a global approach to regulation by combining our global influence with our unique expertise in advocacy, standard setting activities and global services.

In the activities we carry out every day—in our work to support the resolution of commercial disputes, through policy advocacy, in the development of rules and guidelines, in our training courses, and in the delivery of other practical tools and services, we help you adapt to the challenges of trading in today’s fast-paced global economy.

History

ICC was founded in the aftermath of the First World War when no world system of rules governed trade, investment, finance or commercial relations.

Without waiting for governments to fill the gap, ICC’s founders acted on their conviction that the private sector is best qualified to set global standards for business.

They called themselves “The merchants of peace.”

Business Expertise

ICC’s unrivalled understanding of business arises from the expertise of our members, most of whom are involved in international commerce.

From banking regulation and global taxation to ethical marketing and climate change, the strength and legitimacy of our advocacy work and rules making derive from the fact that they are developed through extensive consultation with member companies.

At present, close to 3,000 experts make up the specialised working bodies that establish our business stance on a broad range of issues.

What’s more, the trainings and events we stage all harness the expertise of our members to ensure they keep pace with the latest developments and issues in the field.

The know-how and vision of our members ensure the world business organization continually evolves to meet the needs of businesses today… In turn, our members and experts count on ICC influence to get business views across to governments and intergovernmental organizations, whose decisions affect corporate finances and operations worldwide.

ICC’s policy commissions, comprising business experts who examine major issues of interest to the business world, prepare policy products, including statements and recommendations to contribute to intergovernmental discussions, as well as rules and codes to facilitate international business transactions.

Dispute Resolution

At ICC, we do more than support trade in today’s economy. We also help solve difficulties that arise in international commerce through our market leading administered dispute resolution services.

Companies and governments worldwide turn to our services as an attractive alternative to litigation. That’s because not only are they neutral and reliable solutions that help save time and money, they are also flexible enough to meet the diverse interests and needs of parties in different parts of the world and different sectors of the economy.

From our flagship International Court of Arbitration administering ICC Arbitration, to our International Centre for ADR providing mediation and other forms of ADR, our services are based exclusively on respected rules that only we are empowered and authorized to administer.

You do not have to be a member of ICC to make us your first choice for resolving disputes large or small. In fact, with standard clauses available to include in your commercial contracts and the availability of our rules in several languages, ICC dispute resolution is more accessible today than ever before.