ICC 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.

HISTORY AT A GLANCE

  • 1919

     

    A handful of entrepreneurs decided to create an organization that would represent business everywhere

  • ICC establishes the International Court of Arbitration

     

    1923

  • 1933

     

    ICC publishes first rules for the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (UCP)

  • ICC publishes first edition of the Incoterms© rules featuring six trade terms

    1936

  • 1944

    ICC represents Business at the Bretton Woods Conference which proposed the creation of an International Trade Organization to establish rules and regulations for International trade

  • ICC is the only private sector organization granted accreditation to the Conference on International Organization (UNCIO), a convention resulting in the creation of the UN Charter

    1945

  • 1977

    ICC becomes first business organization to issue anti-corruption rules

  • ICC renames its International Bureau of Chambers of Commerce the World Chambers Federation

    2001

  • 2003

    ICC becomes signatory of the UN Global Compact

  • Upon request of the WTO Director General, ICC launches report to analyse trade finance shortages and possible measures to address the problem

    2008

  • 2015

    The ICC Academy is launched to promote the high standards of excellence in global professional education ICC co-launches Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation to support effective implementation of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement

  • ICC granted Observer Status at the United Nations General Assembly

     

    2016