Cutting Complexity: A Simplification Agenda for Growth, Productivity, and Competitiveness

Today, business leaders from our global business network presented priorities for Cutting Complexity: A Simplification Agenda for Growth, Productivity, and Competitiveness to the OECD's Ambassadors and leadership, including the Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. The meeting served as the 2026 edition of our Annual Consultation with the OECD Council — a longstanding tradition which delivers business priorities for the OECD’s policymaking agenda at the outset of the year.

Our Chair Rick Johnston delivering opening remarks.

OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann delivering remarks.

Setting the scene, leadership from our national member organisations – specifically the United States, Japan, Germany, and Mexico – each provided a regional perspective of what a thriving private sector requires, jointly underlining the challenges that excessive policy complexity brings for the private sector. Led by our Chair Rick Johnston, our business network called on the OECD to champion a simplification agenda for growth, productivity, and competitiveness providing key recommendations in three priority areas:

• Cutting Red Tape: Simplifying the Way of Doing Business
• Clearing the Path: Unlocking Innovation and Economic Participation
• Dealing with Distortions: Addressing Government Intervention in Global Markets

Our recommendations set the tone for future business advocacy with the OECD and its 38 Member States throughout the year. The meeting also laid the foundations for our upcoming contribution to the annual OECD Ministerial Council Meeting, which Finland will chair in June. As the OECD’s unique strength lies in its evidence-based analysis, ability to drive policy coherence across disciplines, and close institutional relationship with Business at OECD, we look forward to working with the OECD to deliver smarter regulation, better conditions for doing business, and a level global playing field.