A Century of Commerce: The ICC’s Enduring Mission
In a world increasingly marked by trade tensions and rising tariffs, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) advocates for dialogue, cooperation, and a rules-based global trading system. The ICC warns that tariff hikes and retaliations raise costs, disrupt supply chains, and create uncertainty that harms businesses worldwide. A recent ICC Pulse Survey, conducted shortly after new U.S. tariffs were announced in April 2025, shows that a majority of companies express serious concerns about these tariffs, highlighting increased costs, supply chain disruptions, and the risk of retaliatory measures. These effects span sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, and services, prompting many businesses to adopt a cautious outlook for the year ahead. ICC urges governments to avoid escalating trade conflicts and instead pursue multilateral negotiations to safeguard economic stability.
The founding meeting of the International Chamber of Commerce in 1919, where visionary ‘merchants of peace’ laid the groundwork for global trade cooperation. Photo by ICC.
Founded in 1919 by industrialists, financiers, and traders known as the “Merchants of Peace,” ICC was established to promote open trade and investment and to create rules for peaceful business relations following World War I. Its international secretariat was set up in Paris, where its global headquarters remain today. ICC has since grown into the world’s largest business organisation, representing over 45 million companies in more than 170 countries.
From Tariffs to Turbulence: The New Reality for Global Business
Trade wars and retaliatory tariffs are no longer distant threats but daily realities. Businesses face rising costs, supply chain bottlenecks, and economic uncertainty. The ICC’s survey reveals that these disruptions span multiple sectors, compelling many firms to reassess their strategies and prepare for a turbulent year.
Tools of Trust: ICC’s Practical Solutions for a Fractured World
What does ICC do amid these challenges?
- Shape Global Trade Rules: ICC influences policies on taxation, sustainability, customs, and intellectual property to reduce barriers and foster business-friendly environments.
- Provide Practical Trade Tools: ICC’s instruments, such as Incoterms., ATA Carnets, and certificates of origin, simplify cross-border transactions and enhance transparency.
- Resolve Disputes Efficiently: ICC’s International Court of Arbitration, established in 1923, offers trusted, efficient dispute resolution to keep trade flowing smoothly.
Delegates at the 215th ICC World Council session in Paris, driving progress on trade and climate action for a more inclusive global economy. Photo by ICC.
Uniting the Many: SMEs, Chambers of Commerce, and the Global Business Ecosystem
ICC is a vital partner not only for multinational corporations but also for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local chambers of commerce. Through its ICC World Chambers Federation, ICC connects thousands of chambers of commerce worldwide, creating a global ecosystem that helps local businesses access international markets.
For SMEs, ICC offers tailored services, including the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship, SME360X for environmental performance management, and ICC One Click, a gateway to trade facilitation tools and export guides. These resources help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigate complex trade environments and seize new opportunities.
ICC also partners with the International Trade Centre (ITC) to promote women’s economic empowerment, youth entrepreneurship, and sustainability initiatives, providing market intelligence, digitalisation training, and advocacy support to strengthen SME competitiveness.
Data Without Borders: Why Digital Flows Matter More Than Ever
A critical but often overlooked aspect of global trade is the flow of data across borders. The ICC emphasises that cross-border data flows are crucial for maintaining efficient and resilient supply chains, facilitating real-time coordination, logistics, customs clearance, and the deployment of advanced digital tools, such as IoT and predictive analytics. However, growing regulatory fragmentation (including data localisation mandates, inconsistent privacy laws, and incompatible standards) acts as a non-tariff barrier that slows trade, increases costs, and disproportionately impacts micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). These restrictions undermine supply chain visibility, reduce competitiveness, and threaten business confidentiality.
To address these challenges, ICC calls for coordinated international action, pursuing multilateral World Trade Organization (WTO) rules to enable trusted, secure, and predictable data flows; promoting risk-based approaches that distinguish between personal and non-personal data; avoiding blanket data localisation requirements; protecting confidential business information through enforceable safeguards; and investing in MSME-friendly digital trade ecosystems.
You can explore ICC’s detailed recommendations and insights on data flows link here.
An example of data flows in the coffee supply chain – key stages, data types andbusiness interactions. Source: ICC (2025), Policy brief: Data Flows in Supply Chains
Merchants of Peace, Then and Now: Reviving a Legacy for Today’s Challenges
Members of local chambers of commerce are indirectly linked to the ICC through the World Chambers Federation, which amplifies the voices of local businesses on the international stage.
For companies active internationally or planning to expand abroad, including exporters, importers, multinationals, and firms in sectors such as finance, manufacturing, technology, and logistics, direct ICC membership offers significant advantages. These include greater influence in shaping global trade policies, early access to emerging international regulations and standards, exclusive use of ICC’s trade facilitation tools, and participation in ICC expert committees and global events.
“ICC membership connects businesses to a global network that shapes trade rules, provides practical tools, and offers trusted dispute resolution, essential for companies aiming to thrive internationally.” – Julian Kassum, ICC Deputy Secretary-General
Learn more from Julian Kassum‘s video to ICC Finland on why to join ICC link here.
A legacy renewed: today’s ICC continues the mission of the original ‘Merchants of Peace’ to turn conflict into collaboration. Edited with AI using ICC images.
Conclusion: Stability Through Cooperation, The ICC’s Path Forward
Amid rising trade war tensions and tariffs, the International Chamber of Commerce remains a steady force for global business. Reviving the legacy of the “merchants of peace” is essential to guiding dialogue, cooperation, and a rules-based trading system that restores balance and resilience to international commerce. The ICC will lead the way toward a more stable and open global economy.
Sources
- ICC official website: iccwbo.org
- ICC Finland LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icc-finland/
- ICC Pulse Survey 2025, April 2025: link here
- ICC LinkedIn post on data flows in supply chains: link here
- Julian Kassum’s LinkedIn post on ICC membership benefits, 2025: link here
Article edited by Antti Rahikainen
