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Learning Module Series

Learning Module Series. Introduction to Standards and Trade. Outline. ASTM International Overview US Standards System US Government’s Role World Trade Organization. ASTM International – An Overview. Organized in 1898 The largest U.S.-based standards developer

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Learning Module Series

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  1. Learning Module Series Introduction to Standards and Trade

  2. Outline • ASTM International Overview • US Standards System • US Government’s Role • World Trade Organization

  3. ASTM International – An Overview • Organized in 1898 • The largest U.S.-based standards developer • Non-governmental, not-for-profit organization

  4. What is a Standard? • Technical document developed by consensus

  5. ASTM International Standards Development Process • Provides a management system for the development of voluntary, consensus standards • Does not provide certification, testing or accreditation services

  6. ASTM Technical Committees • 140 technical committees • Consumer Products • Steel • Petroleum • Construction/Building Plastics • Paint • Textiles • Environmental • Medical Devices • Many, many more

  7. Global Use and Application • Over 75 nations utilize ASTM standards in their regulations or as the basis of their national standards • China – 643 • Colombia – 1169 • Egypt – 392 • South Africa - 539

  8. U.S. Standardization in General • No single organization, public or private, controls the U.S. standards development system • In the U.S. there are multiple methods of standards development (400 developers) • The system is coordinated - publicly and privately • The U.S. system is unregulated, market-oriented and diverse

  9. ANSI and the U.S. Standards Strategy • Developed first in 2000 and revised in 2005 • Facilitated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) • Common vision for national and international standardization

  10. Conformity Assessment • Any activity to determine, directly or indirectly, that a process, product, or service meets relevant standards and fulfills relevant requirements • i.e. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) • Europe – “Notified Body”

  11. U.S. Federal Regulation • The U.S. Administrative Procedure Act allows executive branch government agencies to develop detailed rules and regulations through a public "rulemaking" process where the public is allowed to comment. After a period of time, the rules and regulations are usually published in the Federal Register.

  12. Support and Mandate for Government Participation • “…all Federal agencies and departments shall use technical standards that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies, using such technical standards as a means to carry out policy objectives or activities determined by the agencies and departments….and shall, when such participation is in the public interest…participate with such bodies in the development of technical standards.” • P.L. 104-113 National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA)

  13. US Government and Trade ITA’s Standards and Competitiveness Report USTR Trade Policy

  14. Free Trade Agreements • Eliminate tariffs, quotas and preferences on most (if not all) goods between trade partners • Help level the international playing field and encourage foreign governments to adopt open and transparent rulemaking procedures, as well as non-discriminatory laws and regulations

  15. Rules of Trade • World Trade Organization (WTO) • Established in 1995 to deal with the rules of trade between nations at a global or near-global level. • Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (TBT) • Prohibits use of regulations, standards, and conformity assessment (technical measures) as barriers to trade

  16. Standards as Key Components of Trade 16

  17. Standards as Key Components of Trade • TBT Inquiry Point • Each WTO member is required to report to the WTO Secretariat in Geneva, proposed central government regulations and provide a 60 day comment period to allow other WTO members to review and comment on the proposal. • National Center for Standards and Certification Information

  18. Barriers to Trade Disputes The WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), and in particular its Appellate Body, have made it very difficult for WTO Members to use technical regulations (TBT Agreement) and health regulations (SPS Agreement) as a form of disguised protectionism, and several Members have taken advantage of the DSB for this purpose.

  19. Summary/Conclusion • Standards are key documents for trade • ASTM standards are international standards that are used globally • The WTO defines the principles of international standards • ASTM is committed to the concept of multiple paths to international standards

  20. Jim Olshefsky Director, External Relations jolshefs@astm.org Anthony Quinn Director, Public Policy and International Trade aquinn@astm.org Contact Information www.astm.org www.astm.org/GLOBAL/

  21. Thank You ASTM InternationalLearning Module Series www.astm.org

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