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TRAINING 11 February 2025 Leveraging Mediation in your dispute resolution strategy Read more International Chamber of Commerce, World Business Organisation - ICC WBO For business. For you. We make business work for everyone, every day, everywhere. Read More International Advocacy ICC Netherlands represents the voice of Dutch businesses on the global stage. Through active participation in unique international platforms and global ICC commission work, we ensure that the interests and perspectives of Dutch businesses are heard and considered. Policy Area Digital Economy Environment & Energy Arbitration & Dispute Resolution Anti-corruption & Corporate Responsibility Human Rights Customs & Trade Facilitation Marketing & Advertising Taxation ICC works with the world’s leading global institutions Business Solutions We offer a range of business solutions designed to facilitate international trade and support business growth. Developed by businesses for businesses, our solutions are tailored to meet the diverse needs of the global business community. International trade tools Incoterms Model Contractors & Clauses Learnings - Certifications Certificates of Origin Guidelines & Standards ... and more Dispute Resolution Services With unmatched levels of excellence in arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services, we facilitate the prevention and resolution of disputes for companies, states, and individuals. Our extensive experience and global reach ensure that businesses can resolve their disputes efficiently and effectively. DSR Services The Dutch Arbitrator & Mediator Database The National Nominations Commission International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) International Court of Arbitration File your Request for Arbitration Events Ensure you don’t miss out on any opportunity to engage and connect. Our events are designed to bring businesses together, share knowledge, and discuss key topics relevant to their interests. They also allow us to form coalitions that better represent the interests of Dutch businesses in both national and international discussions. ICC offers a unique, independent platform for the corporate, financial, and legal sectors to collaborate in a noncompetitive environment. Webinar: Responsible Advertising: Challenges and Solutions Thu, Jan 30 https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/54 Jan 30, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/54 Jan 30, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/54 Join us for an engaging webinar on responsible advertising, where we’ll delve into the evolving landscape of advertising standards, legal frameworks, and best practices for navigating complex challenges in an international context. RSVP Training: Leveraging Mediation in your dispute resolution strategy Tue, Feb 11 Amsterdam Feb 11, 2025, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerplein 50, 1082 MA Amsterdam, Netherlands Feb 11, 2025, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerplein 50, 1082 MA Amsterdam, Netherlands Join us on 11 February 2025 at Houthoff, Amsterdam, for an interactive mediation training designed to help you resolve disputes efficiently, in confidentiality, and collaboratively. RSVP One voice 45 million companies All sizes, all sectors 170 countries The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the world’s largest business organisation representing 45 million companies with 1 billion employees in over 170 countries. It is the only business organisation with UN Observer Status and acts as a leading voice for business at the UN, G7, G20, World Trade Organization and other major international institutions. ICC Netherlands is the representative voice for ICC in the Netherlands and provides a mechanism for Dutch industry to engage effectively in shaping international policy, standards and rules. Stay informed! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive monthly updates on global policies, special event invitations , and our quarterly newsletter featuring interviews with specialists, the latest trends in international trade, and valuable information for your business. Email Sign Up Thanks for submitting!

< Back New Leadership Appointed to DSI Industry Advisory Board Mar 27, 2024 The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has announced new appointments to lead the Industry Advisory Board (IAB) of the Digital Standards Initiative, the global platform for digital trade standards alignment, adoption and engagement. Stephan Wolf of GLEIF assumes the Chair role, as the inaugural Chair Gerard Hartsink steps down. Robert Beideman of GS1, continues in his current role as Vice-Chair and is joined by ING banker Lynn Ng as newly appointed Vice-Chair. Since its formation in August 2021, the IAB has convened industry leaders, standards development organisations (SDOs), and trade and technical experts who are dedicated to solving the key challenges of trade digitalisation, including standards, interoperability, and digital trust. The IAB has played a key role in developing a simplified approach to digitalising the end-to-end supply chain under the Key Trade Documents and Data Elements (KTDDE) process. This process provides guidance on digital standards for each point on the supply chain to facilitate data sharing, alignment and interoperability across networks and platforms. Initial parts of the work were published in March 2023 and November 2023, and the conclusion of the work will be marked with a final, comprehensive publication in the weeks ahead. “ Gerard Hartsink , our outgoing IAB Chair, has been instrumental in helping us frame and advance our approach, while bringing together all key stakeholders into a single coherent effort. We are extremely grateful for the foundation he has built, as we turn our attention to driving adoption,” ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO. Stephan Wolf , CEO of the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation, who has been serving as Vice-Chair of the IAB since 2023, said: “I am honoured to take on this new role and eager to work with Robert, Lynn and all our IAB members. Together, we will build on the DSI’s accomplishments and scale the adoption of global standards and trusted technology principles to digitalise trade faster and more broadly.” Incoming Vice-Chair Lynn Ng , who leads Sustainable Value Chains for ING Bank and is currently Chair of the ICC Banking Commission, said: “Gerard Hartsink has given generously to the cause of digitalising trade, finance and payments. I’m looking forward to continuing his work on these essential, overlapping areas to build a more sustainable, inclusive future.” Robert Beideman , Chief Product Officer of GS1, who has led the KTDDE work as IAB Vice-Chair, said: “With the KTDDE work, we have reached a significant milestone in presenting a single integrated vision for addressing digitalisation challenges across global supply chains. We’re grateful to all who have supported the work thus far, and excited to continue to work to realise the potential of trade digitalisation globally.” For more information about the ICC DSI, including tools and reports, please visit https://www.dsi.iccwbo.org/ . Previous Next

< Back Bart Neervoort NEERVOORT Mediation Arbitrage (handelsnaam Nirwa Werk ) Mediator Contact Details Netherlands 0031653202437 neervoort@med-arb.nl Additional Links: Link Contact Details Biography Former attorney with 30 year experience in international litigation and arbitration and former judge with the Amsterdam appeal court. Trained as a mediator in the UK (CEDR) and the US (Harvard). International corporate and commercial mediator since 2002. Over 400 mediations since then. Described by parties as a no nonsense dealmaker. Regular mediation appoinments by ICC. Languages Spoken English, Dutch, French Specialisation Transport, Real Estate, Maritime, Joint Ventures, Insurance, Finance and Banking, Energy and Natural Resources, Distribution, Corporate Law / M&A, Consultancy Services (Other than Legal), Construction, Competition, Agency (Representation), Employment, Information and Communication Technologies, Sales, Pharmaceutical, Insolvency, Mass Claims, Personal Injury Bar Admission(s) Credentials IMI, MfN, CEDR, Other CV

< Back Clock is ticking for future of e-commerce and digital trade ICC WBO Jan 24, 2024 A World Trade Organization (WTO) moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions is set to expire in February. Without its renewal, the future of e-commerce and digital trade hangs in the balance. The WTO E-Commerce Moratorium will lapse unless WTO members agree to renew it at the WTO’s upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference, which is set to take place next month on 26-29 February in Abu Dhabi. ICC is calling on all WTO members to renew the agreement and has been making the case for its permanent adoption. Without an extension, governments could start to experiment with unilateral tariffs on everything from software, digital payments, and cloud services to the data supporting popular streaming services, disrupting the digital economy and driving up the cost of digital services that businesses across the world depend on to run and grow their operations. ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said: “ The Moratorium is a critical safeguard and allowing it to lapse would be a historical setback, hurting small businesses and consumers the most, driving up costs and reducing access to knowledge, information, and digital tools. Not only would such a move add to a damaging pattern of escalating tariffs; it would also wreak potential havoc on the online economy. Tariffs really could ‘break the Internet’.” The Moratorium has been in place since the WTO’s Second Ministerial Conference in 1998. Since then, governments have agreed to extend it at the biennial WTO Ministerial Conference. While lacking a specific definition, the term “electronic transmissions” is generally understood to mean anything from software to digital music, movies, and video games. The moratorium has played an important role in the development of the Internet by keeping tariffs off digitally delivered products, services and content. “The agreement has played a hidden – but vital – role in the growth of the Internet economy over the past two decades shielding the Internet from distortions and disruptions induced by levies at national borders. We urge governments to ensure that the moratorium is renewed at MC13 next month,” said Mr Denton. Read more about the WTO E-Commerce Moratorium here . Previous Next

< Back Open letter on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) ICC WBO Apr 29, 2024 In an open letter to European Commission Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union ICC is calling attention to the severe compliance challenges faced by companies during the first reporting period of the transitional phase of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) ICC has written to European Commission Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union to call attention to the severe compliance challenges faced by companies during the first reporting period of the transitional phase of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). While expressive full support for EU’s ambitious efforts to accelerate climate action globally ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO underscores the imperative to ensure that the CBAM does not create unnecessary barriers to global commerce that in turn risk stoking trade frictions and undermining cooperative action to secure a net-zero future. The full text of the letter can be found below or is downloadable from the link above. Mr Gerassimos ThomasDirector-General for Taxation and Customs UnionEuropean Commission Paris, 3 April 2024 Dear Mr. Thomas, I am writing to bring to your attention the severe compliance challenges faced by companies – of all sizes and across a range of sectors – during the first reporting period of the transitional phase of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). To be clear: we are fully supportive of the European Union’s ambitious efforts to accelerate climate action globally – and, moreover, recognise the potential challenge posed by carbon leakage given existing asymmetries in domestic policies. However, to be effective, we believe it is imperative to ensure that the CBAM does not create unnecessary barriers to global commerce – which risk stoking severe trade frictions and undermining cooperative action to secure a net-zero future. In this context, we are eager to work with you to address prevailing concerns related to the implementation of the CBAM which we believe can be resolved through detailed and constructive dialogue with international business. Of particular note, we wish to highlight the following challenges that have been raised with us by a broad spectrum of companies in recent weeks: Access to the CBAM reporting platform: the decentralised process to receive access to the CBAM reporting platform through national competent authorities varies significantly from Member State to Member State, which makes it complex for companies to navigate. In addition, technical issues were faced that impeded many companies from accessing the platform. Technical challenges have also been encountered once the platform was accessed, for example validation errors with commodity codes when using default values for direct emissions. Navigating the submission of CBAM reports: following the instructions for filing, it has been a significant challenge for companies to determine how a report can be submitted by the declarant on behalf of the signatory who certifies that the information is correct. Another challenge many companies encounter when navigating their submission is that the platform is not available in more (EU) languages. High administrative burden: Due to the low de minimis threshold of €150, a large number of transactions is captured in the scope of the CBAM including those traded in low volumes – such as screws and bolts – resulting in disproportionately high compliance costs which are particularly challenging for smaller businesses. It is also difficult for businesses who do irregular low value/weight consignments or are sending samples for which a quarterly or annual threshold could be considered or a simplified reporting procedure. The climate effects of such low weight/value shipments are negligible compared to the bureaucratic burden and the resulting impacts on international transactions. Collection of required data and calculation of embedded emissions: There is an urgent need to assist companies in the EU and – in cooperation with partner countries – abroad with user-friendly calculation methodologies and to recognise and facilitate the complexity of data collection across elaborate global supply chains. Even though many companies, globally, are already monitoring and calculating their embedded emissions, they are based on other methodologies, whose use is only possible until the end of 2024. For the CBAM collection method, the installation guide and the “communication template” are too complicated for most suppliers. In addition to the complex data collection, the information required by law differs from the information that the CBAM excel sheet requires. All importers are focused on completing this excel sheet while exporters are focused on the data required by law. Obtaining the required data across supply chains: There is also a real issue with collecting data across different tiers of the supply chain as many suppliers outside of the EU are reluctant to provide critical information and may even risk violating domestic data protection laws. For example, an intermediary company supplying low-value steel articles downstream will be reticent to reveal the original manufacturer of the respective item to their buyer. There should be a mechanism for DG TAXUD to obtain the required information from operators directly (without importers accessing the information). Especially for non-European companies, there is a difficulty to identify the scope for importation performed in an European country where the company is not established but registered only for VAT purposes. Protection of confidential business information: The type of information that is collected, particularly in the importer’s excel sheet, exposes confidential business information in relation to the product, the production process and inputs that exporters do not want to share. Uncertainty on default values: the use of default values is not available for the entire duration of the transitional period. Given the short deadline to understand and implement CBAM compliant reporting, it should be considered to extend the use of default values throughout the entire transitional phase to facilitate reporting. In view of these challenges, we would like to ask you for a dialogue to explore solutions to address these immediate concerns – as well as a range of other compliance issues that have been faced over the first reporting period. More broadly, we see a real risk of the CBAM fostering an uneven playing field for international commerce: not only affecting the competitiveness of European businesses by increasing their administrative burden and resulting compliance costs – but also posing long-term risks to the integrity of the single market. Retaliatory measures by non-EU countries risk precipitating trade barriers that could further distort global markets – with small businesses likely to be most acutely impacted. Other countries are already starting to design their own CBAMs, with a different methodology, serving not only climate objectives but also protectionist interests. Given this macro- and micro-context, we see an imperative to ensure the CBAM is aligned with a trade policy that fosters fair competition and sustains the EU’s principles of open and fair trade on a global scale. We, of course, appreciate the complexities involved with implementing a forward-looking mechanism such as CBAM – and hope you will see ICC as a genuine partner to achieve its effective implementation. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely,John W.H. Denton AOICC Secretary General Cc: Director-General for Trade Sabine Weyand; Director-General for Climate Action Kurt Vandenberghe Read ICC recommendations to the European Commission on the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – ICC – International Chamber of Commerce ( iccwbo.org ) Previous Next

< Back Stan Putter HBN Law Arbitrator Contact Details Netherlands +31 70 218 9400 Stan.Putter@hbnlawtax.com Additional Links: Link Contact Details Biography Stan Putter has over 15 years of experience in international arbitration. He primarily acts as counsel in international arbitration proceedings and ancillary litigation proceedings, including setting aside and enforcement actions, (ex parte) attachment proceedings, injunctions and evidence taking proceedings. He also sits as (chairman, co- and sole) arbitrator. He has been involved in around 100 arbitrations with seats and applicable laws across the globe. Stan Putter is the chairman of the Dutch Arbitration Association. Languages Spoken Dutch, English Specialisation Construction, Engineering, Energy, Finance, Corporate Law / M&A, Petrochemical, Technology Bar Admission(s) Credentials CV

ICC Arbitration and ADR Training Registration Form As part of our commitment to providing better services and increasing knowledge around ICC Arbitration and DRS, we are pleased to offer our members the opportunity to participate in a training on ICC Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolutions. This training will be offered in the Netherlands, free of charge for our members, and conducted by a member of the ICC Dispute Resolution Services. How Does It Work? For Smaller Firms or Sole Practitioners : We will organize training sessions in The Hague, with online registration available. The possibility to adapt the agenda might be limited, depending on the needs. The training will also be open to external parties (with a participation fee). Certificates of attendance will be provided by ICC, allowing lawyers to claim their PO points. To streamline the registration process, please submit this form. Name of Firm Expected Number of Trainees Type of Training * Introduction to ICC Arbitration Focus Session on Specific Areas of ICC Arbitration Select topics you would like to address: Overview of ICC Arbitration Role of the ICC Secretariat Role of the ICC Court Drafting Arbitration Agreements (incl. Scrutiny Process, Expedited Proceedings, Emergency Arbitration, Terms of Reference) Selection of Arbitrators Complex Arbitrations ICC Mediation Dispute Boards Proposed Timing (we will contact you for exact dates, please provide an indicative timeline) Preferred Time 08:00 AM 08:30 AM 09:00 AM 09:30 AM 10:00 AM 10:30 AM 11:00 AM 11:30 AM 12:00 PM 12:30 PM 01:00 PM 01:30 PM 02:00 PM 02:30 PM 03:00 PM 03:30 PM 04:00 PM 04:30 PM 05:00 PM 05:30 PM Choose a time Focus Session topics you would like to address: Overview of ICC Arbitration Role of the ICC Secretariat Role of the ICC Court Drafting Arbitration Agreements (incl. Scrutiny Process, Expedited Proceedings, Emergency Arbitration, Terms of Reference) Selection of Arbitrators Complex Arbitrations ICC Mediation Dispute Boards Preferred Time 08:00 AM 08:30 AM 09:00 AM 09:30 AM 10:00 AM 10:30 AM 11:00 AM 11:30 AM 12:00 PM 12:30 PM 01:00 PM 01:30 PM 02:00 PM 02:30 PM 03:00 PM 03:30 PM 04:00 PM 04:30 PM 05:00 PM 05:30 PM Choose a time Contact Information: Additional Notes or Requirements I agree to the terms & conditions View terms of use Submit Thank you for submitting the form. We will contact you soon!

Privacy Policy This is the Privacy Policy of the International Chamber of Commerce Netherlands (hereinafter ICC Netherlands). In order to serve you well and to carry out our work as efficiently and effectively as possible, ICC Netherlands processes your personal data. ICC Netherlands considers careful handling of your personal data to be of great importance. Therefore, we process and secure your personal data with care. You can rest assured that your data is safe with ICC Netherlands and that we adhere to the applicable legal regulations. Why does ICC Netherlands have a Privacy Policy? In this Privacy Policy, we have outlined how we handle your personal data. You can read in this Privacy Policy which personal data we process from you, for what purposes, who may access your data, how we store your data, to whom we disclose your data, and what influence you can exert on this yourself. Your interests are paramount to us! What are personal data? Personal data are all data that can be traced back to a natural person, and that's you. Personal data include: your name, address, telephone number, email address. We obtain this type of data from you when you, for example, fill out a form, send a letter or email, or call us. Even when you visit the ICC website, you may provide us with personal data in some cases. For example, in the form of an IP address or a cookie. At the moment your personal data are shared with ICC Netherlands by yourself or by a third party, we process them. The meaning of the term processing is broad and includes, among other things: collecting, storing, consulting, deleting, using, and providing data to third parties. Where does this Privacy Policy apply? This Privacy Policy applies to all personal data that ICC Netherlands processes from you (either fully or partially automated) in the context of its services. Who does ICC Netherlands process personal data from? We may process personal data from all individuals with whom we have contact, or who visit the ICC Netherlands website. These are primarily the personal data of contacts from private and public entities who are members of ICC Netherlands, or who participate in ICC Netherlands activities or have in some other way indicated their desire to be in a relationship with ICC Netherlands. Important: If you, as an organization or company, provide us with personal data of your employees, you are required by applicable law to inform your employees about this. You can provide this Privacy Policy to your employees. This way, they will know exactly how ICC Netherlands handles their personal data. Who is responsible for processing your personal data? The entity responsible for processing your personal data is located at Bezuidenhoutseweg 12, 2594 AV in The Hague. The responsible entity is the one who formally and legally decides whether and, if so, which personal data are processed, for what purpose this happens, and in what manner. What does ICC Netherlands use your personal data for? ICC Netherlands may only process your personal data if we have a legal basis for doing so. The legal bases for processing your personal data are: consent legitimate interest the processing of your data is necessary for the performance of a contract Visiting the ICC Netherlands website When you visit our website, we record your cookies. Below you can read what we use this data for. What do we do with cookies? We use cookies on this website. A cookie is a simple small file that is sent along with pages of this website and is stored by your browser on the hard drive of your computer. Through our website, a cookie is placed by the American company Google, as part of the "Analytics" service. We use this service to keep track of how many visitors our website receives and to receive reports on how visitors use the website. Google may provide this information to third parties if Google is legally required to do so, or if third parties process the information on behalf of Google. We have no influence on this. The information that Google collects is anonymized as much as possible. Your IP address is not explicitly provided. The information is transferred to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. What are your rights? When ICC Netherlands processes your personal data, you have certain rights under applicable regulations. Your rights are explained below. We inform you when we process your personal data ICC Netherlands provides you with information regarding our identity for the processing of your data, the purposes for which and the ways in which we process your data, the rules that apply to this, the rights you have, and how you can exercise them. This information provision may be omitted if you are already aware of the processing of your data or if a notification to you is impossible or would require disproportionate effort on our part. Access to your data Are you a member of ICC Netherlands and do you want to see which personal data we have about you? Then you can use your 'Right of access'. We ask you to specifically indicate which personal data you would like to receive. Right to rectification You have the right to rectify data if your data is incorrect or incomplete. You also have the right to rectify the data if the data are not relevant for the purpose for which we process them, or if your data have been processed by us in violation of a legal provision. We will inform the third parties who have received your data from us of any rectification, unless this is impossible or requires disproportionate effort on our part. Right to erasure of data In addition, you have the right to have certain data deleted. For example, when your data are no longer necessary for the purposes for which we received them, you object to the processing, or when your data have been unlawfully processed by us. However, we cannot always delete all requested data because we are obliged (or may be obliged) to keep certain data from you. Right to restriction of processing You also have the right to restrict the processing of your data. The right to restriction means that we may not (temporarily) process and may not change your personal data. This is the case if you dispute the accuracy of the data, if you believe that the personal data are no longer necessary for the purposes, or if you believe that the processing of your personal data by ICC Netherlands is unlawful. Right to data portability When you have provided us with your personal data yourself, you have the right to data portability in certain cases. This means that we will provide you with your data in a structured, common, and machine-readable format when you request it. How can you exercise your rights? If you wish to exercise your rights, you can contact us at any time using the contact details below or by sending us a letter, providing your name, address, and telephone number. We will respond to your request within one month. We ask you to identify yourself with a valid identification document. This way, we can check whether we provide the personal data to the correct person. Excessive requests for information provision may be rejected by us. Excessive requests occur when you, for example, approach us more than average and necessary with requests for information. Right to object You can object to the processing of your personal data by ICC Netherlands if your personal data are used for purposes other than necessary for the performance of a contract or necessary to comply with a legal obligation. For example, when you do not want us to use your personal data to keep you informed about our activities. Supervision of the processing of personal data The rules on protecting your personal data are laid down in the General Data Protection Regulation. The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) ensures compliance with this law. If you believe that the provisions of this Privacy Policy are not or inadequately complied with by us, you have the right to file a complaint with the DPA. The contact details of the DPA are: Hoge Niewstraat 8 2514 EL The Hague 088-1805250 About this privacy policy ICC Netherlands may amend this Privacy Policy. The last amendment was made on May 23, 2024. You will always find the most recent version on icc.nl. Do you have any questions or comments about our Privacy Policy? Please feel free to contact us: ICC Netherlands Bezuidenhoutseweg 12 2594 AV The Hague

Sustainable Development ICC delivers solutions that address the major shifts taking place in the world economy. Read the Commission fact sheet At ICC, we work every day to advance sustainability, to accelerate action on climate and nature and ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all. We do this in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as UN climate and biodiversity agreements have created enormous opportunities for businesses willing to put sustainability at the heart of their operations. Putting sustainability first not only enables business to drive the transition to a better and more just world, it makes plain business sense. According to recent studies, sustainable business models could open economic opportunities worth at least US$12 trillion—creating up to 380 million jobs per year until 2030. But research has also shown that many companies, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, face challenges to integrate sustainability considerations into their operations and core business practices. While many businesses are already playing a leading role in promoting sustainable development, there is still some way to go in fully engaging the global business community in the 2030 challenge. Delivering fully on the promise of a more sustainable and prosperous future for all requires the right policies and incentives, effective tools and, most importantly a collaborative effort to enable the transformation of business practices towards sustainability more broadly—including within the small business sector. ICC continues to play a key role in contributing to international policymaking and leading international debate on the development of coherent policy frameworks, solutions and tools that enable and scale enhanced ambition and action and facilitate the transition to a sustainable, net-zero emissions and nature positive economy. This also includes helping to build an understanding within the SME community of the long-term commercial benefits of sustainable business practices. Climate Action Accelerating action on climate and nature to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all. Read more Good Governance Responsible business conduct is the foundation of Sustainable business practices. Read more Human Rights Respect for human rights is a key vehicle through which business can help achieve the broader vision of peaceful and inclusive societies. Read more

Digital Standards Initiative We are establishing  a globally harmonised  digital trade environment. What is the ICC Digital Standards Initiative? Recent innovations to digitise the global trading system have had the unintended consequence of fragmenting the market and the platforms used by several industries of the international supply chain and public sector agencies. There is a clear need for a trusted, independent and neutral body to lead the effort to connect digital islands. Hosted by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) , the Digital Standards Initiative is committed to promoting policy coherence and harmonising digital trading standards for the benefit of businesses, governments, and people everywhere. Working with established standard-setting bodies and international organisations, the ICC Digital Standards Initiative will drive greater adoption of existing standards and create new frameworks to unify digital trade processes. For an overview of existing standards that could help drive adoption, identify potential gaps, and promote interoperability, click here for a copy of The Standards Toolkit for Cross-Border Paperless Trade . The ICC Digital Standards Initiative will resolve key challenges facing trade digitisation efforts, including: Lack of coherent standards for developers, executives and policymakers. Platform rulebooks that hinder cross-platform title document exchange and utilisation. Insufficient standards to simplify blockchain and non-blockchain based integration. Legal uncertainty regarding the acceptance of digital trade documentation. Unclear requirements for foundational trade standards. Digital Standards Initiative in the Netherlands A conversation with Gerard Hartsink, lead DSI in NL. The common theme in Gerard Hartsink’s long career has been international trade and their payments. Whatever job he has been doing, he says that his work has always been “at the edge of international business processes, standards, and technology”. He has worked for the ICC for over ten years, the previous three of which as Chairman of the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) Industry Advisory Board. In this interview, he highlights the significance of the DSI programme in streamlining the flow of global trade. Can you explain the ICC’s DSI programme in one sentence? The aim of the ICC’s Digital Standards Initiative is to develop a globally harmonized, digitized trade environment. Let’s get into more detail. How will this be accomplished? The DSI programme is focused on two aspects. Firstly, to make sure that the legal rules of administrative law around the world are harmonized. If this is not harmonized globally, then international trade slows down. The UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records – MLETR – is the relevant piece of legislation. Looking at the MLETR Tracker , you can see which countries have adopted this. The UK, for example, is further down the road than the Netherlands. The second part of the DSI mainly involves the technical data standards of the 40 international (paper) trade documents. These documents include data, but the format of these data is not the same of these documents to send them electronically to the business partners and government agencies such as customs, which is a problem. Moreover, it is in different languages. This is why we are nearly complete with the analysis of all 40 trade documents to get clarity about which data elements they contain. Then we identify the best standard for each data element: standardised data is very important for business-to-business, but also business-to-government communications. Standardised data is crucial in validating that the counterparty, for which the LEI (Legal Entity Identifier ) is the recommended option, is indeed the counterparty. Can you zoom in to the situation here in the Netherlands? The Netherlands has many exporters and importers dealing with goods and services. Although the Digital Standards Initiative is mainly for goods, it is not exclusive. A typical Dutch situation is that a lot of goods arriving at the Port of Rotterdam or Schiphol are destined for other countries. If one part of the container is for the Dutch market and the other part is for the rest of Europe, then it becomes very complex to understand who all the parties in the supply chain are. And, in the end, the data of the trade document related to the goods have to pass through multiple organisations, and everyone has to be paid for their services. From a practical perspective, the fact that all those documents do not have the same data is a problem for the exporter, importer or their service provider(s) established in or outside the Netherlands. What can be done to accelerate the implementation of the DSI in the Netherlands? ICC Netherlands has decided to create the ICC NL DSI Forum. This is not only for ICC members, but also key market participants in the Netherlands that are involved in international trade. This Forum has three tasks. First: to look at the DSI programme. Second: to listen to the members of the NL DSI Forum to hear their views based on their local industry knowledge. And third: if, in the end, we come to a global agreement, we will ask participants from the public and private sectors to help facilitate the adoption process of the ICC recommendations. What sort of timeline do you expect? It will take at least two years for the Dutch government to ensure that the MLETR is transposed to Dutch law. In addition, companies and their service providers will need to prepare themselves which will take one or two additional years. Therefore, awareness is very important; that people understand that this is going on at a global level under the umbrella of the ICC. I must also state that it is not just the ICC that is sitting around the table; many other organisations such as BIMCO, GS1, IPCSA, iSHARE, DCSA and IATA are working on this. Besides awareness, intelligent decisions from both the private and public sectors need to be made. Then we can start to have a dialogue about adoption. Is there a relationship between the Digital Standards Initiative and sustainability? There is definitely a direct link between the Digital Standards Initiative and some of the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs): Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure [SDG #9], and Responsible Production and Consumption [SDG #12], for example. The DSI’s standardised suite of data facilitates easier communication; it also means that the cost of production, of moving goods around the world will decrease. If the processes of global trade can be carried out in a more efficient way, this will lead to more efficient use of resources. What is your personal motivation in working for the ICC’s DSI program? My history is in international business: I have the experience on how to use legal and technical standards to structure technology to facilitate international business processes. Therefore, I am very aware that the Dutch economy will benefit over time if we support the ICC’s Digital Standards Initiative. My motivation is working for the benefit of society. I have a focus on getting things done: this is what gives me a kick. Useful links: Standards Toolkit for Cross-border Paperless Trade Go to website The Standards Toolkit for Cross-Border Paperless Trade provides an overview of existing standards to help drive adoption, identify potential gaps and promote interoperability. Its objective is to equip every supply chain participant, both public and private, with some of the most notable and widely used standards to help push trade digitalisation to the next level. MLETR Tracker Go to website This tracker reflects information as known to ICC DSI on the global implementation of MLETR, stakeholders are invited to share any additional information that maybe relevant to update it. The Digital Standards Initiative Go to website The ICC Digital Standards Initiative is establishing a globally harmonised trade environment to address modern challenges and bridge digital standard gaps. UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records Go to website The Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) aims to enable the legal use of electronic transferable records both domestically and across borders. The MLETR applies to electronic transferable records that are functionally equivalent to transferable documents or instruments. Transferable documents or instruments are paper-based documents or instruments that entitle the holder to claim the performance of the obligation indicated therein and that allow the transfer of the claim to that performance by transferring possession of the document or instrument. Transferable documents or instruments typically include bills of lading, bills of exchange, promissory notes and warehouse receipts. The Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation (C4DTI) Go to website C4DTI is an ICC United Kingdom-led, global initiative based at Teesside University established with support from the Tees Valley Combined Authority. We are an industry-led, government-supported public-private partnership that works with the ICC Digital Standards Initiative, foreign governments, business groups, companies and international partners to digitalise UK trade. We are agnostic to technology and advocate for open, interoperable systems (laws, rules, standards). Legal Entity Identifiers (LEI) Go to website Digital identities, within the context of cross-border trade, are referred to as LEIs. They operate in a similar way to having a company identification number with Companies House except LEIs are publicly listed on a global register and are listed as a foundational standard in the WTO/ICC Standards Toolkit.

Partner meeting 24-04-2024 Greenwashing: Let's be real Following our engaging partner meeting held on April 24th, 2024, at the prestigious Beursgebouw in Amsterdam, we are delighted to share a glimpse of the event through captivating pictures and a brief summary of our discussions. Snapshot of the Gathering: The meeting, graciously hosted by Stichting DSI, provided a dynamic platform for stakeholders to convene and delve into the intricate subject of greenwashing. Against the backdrop of the historic Stock Exchange building, attendees immersed themselves in insightful conversations and exchanged perspectives on combating greenwashing practices. Key Highlights, 8 calls to action: Alignment in Communication: Enhance alignment between industry definitions and investor expectations. Communication professionals should clearly convey the real-world impacts and limitations of investment products, ensuring transparency and clarity. Open Dialogue on Investment Outcomes: Foster honest discussions, led by organizational leadership, regarding the outcomes of investments. Encourage transparency about achievable goals and the tradeoffs involved in allocating capital. Common Understanding of Sustainability: Develop a shared understanding of sustainability within the investment industry. Recognize that ESG serves as a lens for understanding sustainability factors but does not define sustainability itself. Explicitly outline the consequences and tradeoffs of pursuing sustainability goals. Direct Policy Action over Transparency: Advocate for more direct policy action, such as carbon taxes and clean energy incentives, rather than relying solely on financial market regulations like SFDR. Emphasize that financial markets are enablers, not drivers, of sustainability. Focus on Better Regulation: Prioritize better regulation over increased regulation. Address the limitations of current disclosure frameworks and ensure that sustainable investments deliver real-world contributions to sustainability goals. Realistic Risk Profiles for Sustainable Investments: Recognize the inherent risk in sustainable investments and avoid equating them with traditional products. Acknowledge that achieving sustainability outcomes may require accepting higher risk profiles. Navigate Data Challenges: Utilize data as a supporting tool, not as the sole determinant of sustainability. Avoid outsourcing the definition of sustainability to data providers, as it increases greenwashing risks. Encourage initiatives like the European Commission's efforts to improve the reliability and comparability of ESG ratings. Establish Industry Standards: Strengthen industry standards to build trust and consistency in sustainable investing. While avoiding complete standardization to allow for innovation, establish clearer definitions of sustainability to reduce confusion among investors. Empower investors to assess sustainability based on actual impact, supported by ongoing education and critical assessment within organizations. Looking Ahead: As we reflect on the success of our recent gathering, we remain committed to advancing dialogue and collaboration in our collective pursuit of integrity. Stay tuned for upcoming initiatives and opportunities to continue our shared mission. We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants for their contributions to the success of the event and especially to Stichting DSI . For more information about the Week of integrity and our ongoing initiatives, visit our website .

GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS PUBLICATIONS AND MEETINGS ICC NETHERLANDS Definitions 1.1 “ICC”: the company with the trade name International Chamber of Commerce Netherlands, Dutch registration trade number: 40408358. Address: Bezuidenhoutseweg 12, 2594 AV The Hague (Malietoren). Contact: by e-mail (info@icc.nl ) or telephone (070-3836646). 1.2 “Members”: companies and organizations that are members of ICC, The World Business Organization or ICC Netherlands at the time of registration of a Meeting or of the scheduling of a Meeting or when placing an order for a Publication. 1.3 “Other Party”: any natural or legal person, acting in furtherance of a profession and/or business, or a consumer who has reached an agreement with ICC for Participants to attend a Meeting or have a Meeting organized by ICC, in these Terms and Conditions will also be referred to as “you”; 1.4 “Buyer”: the natural or legal person, acting in furtherance of her/his profession and/or business and every Consumer who has entered into an agreement for the purchase of Publications from ICC Netherlands, will also be referred to in these Conditions as “you”. 1.5 “Consumer” means the natural person who is not acting in furtherance of a profession or business. 1.6 “Publication”: the Publication(s) to be delivered to you by or through ICC, within a specific term, when entering into an agreement between you and ICC, and for which you must pay a specified price . 1.7 “Meeting”: all meetings organized by ICC, including training sessions, In Company training sessions, seminars, webinars, presentations, masterclasses and/or conferences; 1.8 “Participant”: the natural person who is registered to participate in one of the Meetings; 1.9 “Registration Fee”: the price in Euros, excluding VAT, for attending or having ICC organize a Meeting; 1.10 “Terms” means these terms and conditions. Applicability 2.1 These Terms and Conditions apply to every offer, quotation and the creation, content and fulfillment of all agreements entered into with ICC for ordering Publications, attending Meetings by Participants and organizing Meetings. Other general terms and conditions are expressly rejected. 2.2 Placing an order, registering (on behalf of a Participant) to participate in a Meeting or issuing an assignment for the organization of a Meeting implies that you accept the applicability of these Terms. Offer, entering into the agreement 3.1 The offer includes a description of the offered Publications or Meetings. If an offer is made subject to conditions, this will be explicitly stated in the offer. All offers are without obligation. Obvious mistakes or errors in the offer are not binding on ICC. 3.2 De overeenkomst tussen ICC en u komt definitief tot stand op het moment dat u: a. een bestelling van een Publicatie of inschrijving voor een Bijeenkomst en de betaling daarvoor via de Incoterms2020.nl publicatie webshop hebt afgerond; of The agreement between ICC and you is final when you: a. have completed an order for a Publication or registration for a Meeting by making the payment for it via the Incoterms2020.nl publication webshop; or b. place an order for a Publication or register by completing the applicable order/ registration form for a Meeting via the ICC website on the ICC.nl website and then clicking the “order” button or the “registration” button, or c. receive a confirmation from ICC in which it states that your request, via your email message, to order a Publication or register a Participant(s) to attend a Meeting or assignment to organize a Meeting has been accepted and confirmed. 3.3. Iedere overeenkomst tot koop van een Publicatie wordt aangegaan onder de opschortende voorwaarde van voldoende beschikbaarheid van de bestelde Publicaties. Each agreement to purchase a Publication is entered into subject to the unequivocal condition of sufficient availability of the Publications ordered. Pricing, registration fees and payments 4.1 The listed prices for the offered Publications and the listed Registration Fees for the Meetings are in Euros, exclusive of VAT and exclusive of shipping costs, any taxes or other incumbrances. Certain discounts may apply to Members. 4.2 Payment must be made, without negotiations, via the payment options indicated in the Incoterms2020.nl webshop or in case of orders via icc.nl or by email request within fourteen (14) days from receipt of the invoice. Meetings 5.1 The program of the Meetings is described on the website of icc.nl or on the incoterms2020.nl website, in the respective email or in the offer containing the information and/ or related materials for the relevant Meeting. ICC reserves the right to make changes to the program and organization of the Meeting at any time. 5.2 If the Participant is a different person than the Other Party, the Other Party guarantees that the Participant fulfills the obligations under the agreement. 5.3 Whether the Meetings will go take place or not dependent on sufficient registrations and Participants. If, in the opinion of ICC, there are insufficient registrations/Participants for a Meeting, ICC has the right to cancel the Meeting at any time. Participants and/or Counterparties will be notified by e-mail, to the e-mail address provided to ICC on the registration form, no later than 1 week before the planned date of the Meeting. Any Registration Fees that have already been paid will be refunded. For webinars, the Participants and/or Counterparties will be notified by e-mail, to the e-mail address provided to ICC on the registration form, no later than three (3) days before the planned date of the Meeting 5.4 If registration for or the assignment of the organization of the Meeting is based on the execution of the agreement by a particular person, ICC is nevertheless entitled to replace that person with another of equivalent qualifications. 5.5 ICC reserves the right to use third parties for the execution of the agreements. Intellectual Property Rights 6.1 Alle intellectuele eigendomsrechten die rusten op, of zijn verbonden aan, de in het kader van de Bijeenkomst verkregen informatie en/of werkmateriaal, rusten bij ICC of derden. De in het kader van de Bijeenkomst verkregen informatie en/of werkmateriaal is uitsluitend voor eigen gebruik van de Deelnemer. Het is Deelnemer niet toegestaan de verkregen informatie en/of het materiaal op enige wijze geheel of gedeeltelijk te verveelvoudigen of openbaar te maken, zonder voorafgaande schriftelijke toestemming van de rechthebbende. All intellectual property rights that pertain to, or are connected to, the information and/or materials presented or distributed in the context of the Meeting, remain the rights of ICC or third parties. The information and/or materials obtained in the context of the Meeting is solely meant for the Participant's own use. The Participant is not permitted to reproduce or publish the information and/or materials obtained in any way, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the rightful claimant. Substitution and cancellation 7.1 If a Participant is unable to attend a Meeting, the Other Party/Participant can request to have a replacement from the same organization participate, provided that the Other Party/Participant notifies ICC of this via email at the latest 1 working day before the Meeting. If the Participant has received a member discount, it is only possible to have a replacement use the member discount if the replacement is a member of ICC as well. 7.2 Deelnemer/wederpartij heeft de mogelijkheid zijn inschrijving of de Bijeenkomst waarvoor ICC de organisatieopdracht was verstrekt per email aan ICC te annuleren. Participant/Other Party may cancel her/his registration and/or participation of the Meeting via email to ICC. a. Seminar: In case of cancellation within seven (7) days before the Meeting, 100% of the Registration Fee is due. The date on which ICC receives the email is decisive for the date on which the cancellation takes place.                           b. Webinar: In case of cancellation within three (3) days before the Meeting, 100% of the Registration Fee is due. The date on which ICC receives the email is decisive for the date on which the cancellation takes place. c. In Company Training: In case of cancellation within fourteen (14) days before the Meeting, 100% of the Registration Fee is due. The date on which ICC receives the email is decisive for the date on which the cancellation takes place.  d. If the cancellation of the Meeting does not take place within the above-mentioned period, 100% of the Registration Fee is due. 7.3 In the event of insufficient participation, ICC reserves the right to cancel the Meeting up to five (5) days before the scheduled date of the Meeting without ICC being liable for any compensation. The Participant will be notified of this as soon as possible. If possible, a suitable alternative will be offered. If the Participant uses this option, the amount of the participation will not be refunded. Delivery of Publications 8.1 After ICC has received your order, it will be processed as follows: a. in case of an order via the Incoterms2020.nl publication webshop, ICC will send the Publication, if available and subject to available ICC office staff within five (5) working days; b. in case of an order in accordance with article 3.2 sub b or c: i. Buyer is a member: ICC will send the ordered Publication if available and subject to available ICC office staff, together with the invoice within five (5) working days. ii. Buyer is not a member: ICC will first send an electronic invoice to the e-mail address provided to ICC. Within five (5) working days after receipt of full payment, ICC will, subject to available ICC office staff, send the ordered Publication if in fact available. 8.2 If the delivery term referred to in Article 8.1 is exceeded by ICC, ICC will inform the Buyer of this. In which case the Buyer has the option to dissolve the agreement. This can be done by e-mail or by letter. 8.3 Shipment takes place in a manner that ICC deems appropriate, given the nature and size of the order. 'Standard shipping' via PostNL is common. Please contact ICC Netherlands to discuss other forms of shipping if desired. ICC will send all orders to the shipping address you have provided in writing. 8.4 Subject to proof to the contrary, the administration of ICC serves as proof of the orders placed with ICC, payments made and deliveries made by ICC. 8.5 If delivery of an ordered Publication proves to be impossible or cannot be sent within the period stated in 8.1, ICC will contct the Buyer within a reasonable period of time after receipt of the order, and if possible and appropriate offering alternatives. Retention of title and risk 9.1 Ownership of the delivered Publication only transfers if the Buyer has paid all outstanding invoices to ICC under any agreement. The risk with regard to the Publication passes to the Buyer at the time of delivery. Special Right of Withdrawal Consumers 10.1 If you are a Consumer, after you have received the Publication you ordered, you have the option to dissolve the underlying agreement with ICC within fourteen (14) working days of receipt. You do not have to give a reason whatsoever. 10.2 If you wish to dissolve the agreement pursuant to Article 10.1 of these Terms you must notify ICC by letter or e-mail. You can use the form attached to these Terms for this. You must immediately return the Publication to ICC. You will bear the costs and the risk of the return of the Publication. 10.3 Payments already made by you at the time you revoke the agreement with ICC, pursuant to clauses 10.1 and 10.2 of these Terms, will be refunded to you by ICC within fourteen (14) days after ICC has received the Publication returned by you. 10.4 ICC reserves the right to refuse a returned Publication or to credit only part of the amount already paid: a. when it is reasonably suspected by ICC that the Publication has been used or copied, or b. when the Publication is damaged, other than through ICC's fault. 10.5 If you return a Publication which, in ICC's judgment, has been damaged by an act or omission to act attributable to you or otherwise occurred at your risk, ICC will notify you by letter or email. ICC reserves the right to deduct the reduction in value of the Publication as a result of this damage from the amount to be refunded to you. Claims/ Complaints 11.1 The Publications must be in compliance with the request and the applicable agreement. You have the obligation to investigate whether the Publication complies with your request and the agreement upon delivery. 11.2 If the Publication appears to be defective, you can request ICC by letter or e-mail to repair, replace or deliver the missing or defective part of the Publication as long as your request is made within ten (10) working days after you have received the Publication. 11.3 If you request ICC to repair, replace or deliver the missing or defective portion of the Publication, ICC will ensure that the Publication is repaired or replaced within ten (10) working days after it has received the request for rectification from you. The costs of the return, replacement and/or repair of the Publication, and the shipping costs of the Publication will be borne by ICC, unless it is plausible that the absence of (or part of) the Publication or the lack of the Publication is attributable to you or otherwise caused at your expense and risk. In that case, ICC is not obligated to repair the defect of the Publication or to replace the missing part of the Publication. When this happens, ICC will return the Publication to you in the same condition in which ICC received the Publication from you. Force Majeure 12.1 ICC is not respnsible and cannot be held liable for any damage(s) resulting from failure to perform its obligations under any agreement, including but not limited to, deviations from agreed dates and times, speakers, date and/or time, as a result of circumstances beyond its control, attributable to the law, legal act(s) or generally accepted views. In addition to the foregoing, postal delays, unavailability of Publications, lack of staff within ICC, unavailability of speakers due to extreme weather conditions, pandemic, illness, death, family circumstances, strikes, roadblocks or blockages, accidents or transportation problems, the unreachable or unusable location of the Meeting as a result of strikes, extreme weather conditions, road closures or blockades, calamities or closure by order of the authorities, pandemic, etc. will be regarded as force majeure. Liability 13.1 Except in the case of intent or gross negligence, any liability of ICC under the agreement to purchase a Publication is limited to the amount actually paid by the Buyer for the order from which the liability arises. 13.2 Although the information/materials offered in the context of the Meetings has been compiled with care, ICC does not accept any liability for any damage that is directly or indirectly the result of actions and/or decisions that are (partly) based on the information and/or the materials related to a Meeting. 13.3 Except in the case of intent or gross negligence, any liability of ICC towards a Participant/Other Party in connection with an agreement to participate in or organize a Meeting is limited to the amount that the insurance actually pays regarding the damages caused by the event. If several claims arise from the same event causing the loss/ damages, the amount paid out by the insurance company regarding the loss/ damages caused by the event will be divided pro rata among the claimants. In that case, the liability of ICC for that particular event causing the loss/ damages per claimant is limited to the pro rata amount. If, for whatever reason, no payment is made by an insurance company, ICC's liability for damage under the agreement to participate in or organize a Meeting is limited to the amount actually paid by the Participant/Other Party under the relevant agreement. Personal data, photo and video 14.1 ICC will maintain the information you provide in a file. This data will be used and stored in order to execute the agreement, the provision of services by ICC, to comply with legal (administrative) obligations of ICC, the prevention, detection and deterrence of fraud or similar irregularities, possible complaint handling and dispute resolution. 14.2 You have the right to inspect and correct your personal data. In addition, you can object to certain processing operations as indicated by you, provided that they are not necessary to complete the term of the agreement or arise from a legal obligation. 14.3 Your data will not be made available to third parties, unless by court order or another legal measure orders ICC to do so, it is necessary for the execution of the agreement by ICC or it concerns third parties who will execute the terms of the agreement on behalf of ICC. ICC engages external service providers for the functioning of its website, the sale of its products and the provision of its services. Further details on how personal data is handled are included in the ICC privacy policy. 14.4 Your data may be shared with the speakers of the Meeting, and possibly with the staff of these speakers, fort he purpose of a thorough preparation for the Meeting. By registering for a Meeting you fully agree to this. 14.5 Photos or videos can be taken at our Meetings. By participating in our Meetings, you consent to the use of these photos for commercial and non-commercial purposes. If you do not want to be photographed or filmed, you must indicate this yourself to the photographer or one of our employees prior to the Meeting. For a webinar it is impossible to fulfill this request which means that if you participate in an ICC webinar or online Meeting you agree to the recording of the webinar. Applicable law, competent court and proper venue 15.1 All rights, obligations, offers, orders, Meetings and agreements to which these Terms apply, as well as this particular term, are exclusively governed by Dutch law. Disputes are submitted in the first instance to a competent court in The Hague, the Netherlands.