05.12.2019 İstanbul
Attending the INCOTERMS (Forms of Delivery used in Foreign Trade) 2020 Mena Region Opening Summit, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Turkish National Committee President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined that they want to be more active in global trade, adding, “For this reason, we have to know the rules of trade first.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
reminded that they are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the ICC this
year, “Over the past 100 years, the ICC has managed to bring private sector
representatives from different countries under one roof. It has become a
reference institution working to increase global trade and remove barriers to
trade. It currently represents more than 45 million companies and more than 1
billion employees in more than 100 countries. In other words, 1 out of every 3
employees in the world is employed in ICC member firms. The ICC is the place
around the world where the rules of global trade are set. It is the only
business organization in the United Nations that has gained observer status. It
coordinates the private sectors of all countries under the World Trade
Organization and works to ensure a freer and fairer trade environment. The ICC Turkey
National Committee, which operates under TOBB, has also become one of the most
effective organizations of the ICC.”
- Changes to INCOTERMS rules must
be learned
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that the ICC entered its second century with the vision of ‘business, working
for everyone, every day and everywhere,’ and that the INCOTERMS rules, which
are important parts of this vision, have been updated.
ICC
INCOTERMS rules, one of the most important and comprehensive work of the
International Chamber of Commerce Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed that the rules of
international trade are laid out, exporters and importers' rights and
obligations are determined.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “This is a very important issue for the business world. Because of these
rules, disputes are resolved and global trade becomes easier to do. Now, in
this new system, new forms of delivery are being made available. Insurance
guarantees such as CNI (Cost and Insurance), which includes the cost of goods
and insurance, are increased. Existing forms of delivery are made simpler,
clearer and more user-friendly. As business organizations, our task is to
ensure that our companies learn and adapt to them in the best way possible. Here,
now, with this conference, we are starting to present the renewed Incoterms
2020, to our country’s business world. Afterwards, we will organize Incoterms
trainings in various provinces. All these training activities will be carried
out by accredited instructors. Prof. Dr. Ercüment Erdem, Chairman of the ICC
Commercial Law Commission and Member of the Incoterms 2020 Workgroup, has
undertaken this important work.”
- Slowdown in the global economy
Pointing
to the slowing global economy, the TOBB President noted that the World Trade
Organization, at the beginning of this year, predicted a global trade growth of
4%, “Now he's pulled that estimate to 1.2%. Exports of the top 50 largest
countries decreased by 3% in the first 9 months. In contrast, our exports
increased by 3%. When we look at the ranking of countries in regards to rate of
increase in exports, we are globally ranked 7th. On the other hand,
due to the increasing protectionism in the world, Turkey's loss in exports
increased from $900 million in 2017 to $7.2 billion in 2018 and $11 billion in
2019. It's likely to go up to $14 billion next year. As the business community,
we have always been in favor of fair and free trade. We will continue our work
in this direction in the future as well.
And
for that, we will know and use the rules in the best way. We need to look at
INCOTERMS 2020 from this perspective and learn in the best way.”