International Insider – September 2018

What’s ahead in public policy trends on both sides of the Atlantic? On September 6, the Council hosted Nicholas Whyte, senior director of global solutions in APCO’s Brussels office, for an International Network briefing on Transatlantic Trends.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, is enforced by both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Department of Justice. The law forbids individuals and corporations from offering services, gifts or funds to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. It also requires corporations to maintain transparent receipts of various business transactions as proof of sound commercial dealings with governments. While the SEC largely targets corporations in their investigations of FCPA violations, the Department of Justice fines both companies and individuals.

What defines strategic thinking for global public affairs? This is a question the Council receives from many members who are looking to align their public affairs work with expectations set by business units, senior executives and external stakeholders. Strategic thinking is a continuous planning process that allows your public affairs strategy to change with shifting policy and corporate priorities. Below are some recommendations for guiding your function through the strategic thinking process and developing effective tactics that lead to both internal and external success.

Washington, DC Study Tour

October 1-3, 2018

After last year’s success, we’re bringing the Study Tour back for a second round. Join us to enhance your understanding of public affairs from a Washington, D.C. perspective through visits with corporate members, trade associations, media outlets, Capitol Hill staffers, consultants, multilaterals, embassies, and more.

Workshop: Strategic Planning for Global Advocacy

October 25, 2018

How should global advocacy campaigns be incorporated into your organization’s strategic planning process? This workshop will focus on the basics of creating an international public affairs plan, defining a global advocacy strategy and implementing effective campaigns in non-U.S. markets. Participants will discuss several case studies to identify key tactics of effective campaigns.

Webinar: Public Affairs in Latin America

October 30, 2018

Join regional experts for a discussion of industry must-knows in the region, including political and economic trends affecting multinationals operating in Latin America, best practices for tracking regulatory change, and case studies of successful regional public affairs campaigns.

Workshop: ROI of Global Public Affairs

November 14, 2018

Reporting on global public affairs initiatives is becoming more in-demand from senior leadership. It’s also one of the toughest internal challenges for many industry practitioners. Join the Council for a two-hour workshop that will discuss measurement and value case studies, as well as how public affairs can be better understood as a function across the business.

A new Cold War: The U.S. ramped up its trade war against China earlier this month by imposing tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods and threatening to continue the escalation if Beijing was to retaliate. While it seems that China intends to remain strong and impose its own tariffs worth $60 billion on U.S. imports, U.S. businesses are banding together to ramp up lobbying efforts against these tariffs. Business groups representing thousands of companies across retailing, toy manufacturing, farming and technology are coming together on a lobbying campaign called Tariffs Hurt the Heartland to oppose tariffs on imports. This significant lobbying effort aims to highlight the economic impact the tariffs have had on American farmers, manufacturers, consumers and workers.

Want more on trade? This piece examines how NAFTA has changed the way we eat.

Brexit: How are companies preparing for Brexit as much remains unclear regarding the details of the final exit deal? According to the Wall Street Journal, companies like Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline are stockpiling medicine to avoid delays at the border, while Mondelez International is boosting its supplies of chocolate to account for any supply chain disruptions. Since many details of the final deal have yet to be finalized or even discussed, multinational companies with operations in the U.K. have little idea of what they should be preparing for – new tariffs, extended inspections, copyright regulations and other regulatory hurdles. While a Brexit compromise is still possible, EU officials warn that time is running out before Britain may have to leave the European Union with no deal at all.

Japan: Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a commanding victory in a vote for the leadership of Japan’s governing party, giving him a new three-year term as leader of the party and Prime Minister of Japan. What will be the top three items on Abe’s agenda? According to Eurasia Group, Abe’s priorities will focus on creating a more assertive diplomacy through a stronger relationship with China and a finalized TPP-11 deal, creating a new role for Japan’s military through constitutional reform, and reshuffling his domestic cabinet personnel amid corruption scandals.

GDPR: There are few companies that have not been affected by the new General Data Protection Regulation, known as GDPR. The new regulation has decreased the number of third-party cookies used on web pages across Europe – but what else? GDRP effects explained in five charts, including data on trust between marketers and vendors, contextual targeting, an adverse effect on smaller ad tech companies and U.S. news sites.