COMMERCE UNVEILS PLAN TO REDUCE
BARRIERS TO TRADE
Standards Initiative Aims to Increase Competition in Global Marketplace

Commerce Secretary Don Evans today announced an eight-point Standards Initiative to help break down trade barriers. The initiative is in response to industry concerns that foreign standards and technical regulation issues are becoming among the greatest challenges to expanding exports.

"The Bush Administration remains committed to promoting competition and opening new markets for U.S. goods," said Evans. "Standards and testing are key to our international competitiveness. But more and more we are hearing that foreign standards and testing requirements are keeping our products out of foreign markets. This is the wrong approach that reduces efficiencies, limits competition and increases prices for the consumer goods. This eight-point initiative is an effort to create a more level playing field around the world."

Foreign standards and methods used to assess conformity to standards can facilitate efficient international trade and its benefits, or they also can be used intentionally or unintentionally to impede access to foreign markets. Many in industry view foreign standards and technical regulation as a principal non-tariff barrier in markets around the world. Divergent standards, redundant testing and compliance procedures, and unilateral and non-transparent standard setting exercises are now recognized as major impediments to free trade -- estimated to affect 80 percent of world commodity trade.

The eight points are:
1. Developing a Commerce Global Standards Activity Assessment: The Technology Administration, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will take the lead in conducting a standards activity assessment of all existing Commerce Department programs and efforts to reduce standards-related barriers in foreign markets. Following consultations with industry and other stakeholders, recommendations will be made to the Secretary for future action.

2. Reinforcing Expertise in Key Markets: NIST and the International Trade Administration (ITA) have developed a new, redesigned, intensive training program for standards liaisons posted abroad.

3. Devising an Effective Training and Outreach Program: NIST and ITA, in cooperation with U.S. standards development organizations, will develop a standards training program for all Commerce Department Foreign Commercial Service Officers.

4. Creating a "Best Practices" Database: Working with its offices abroad, other government agencies, and industry, the Commerce Department will develop a database of "best practices" in addressing standards issues in foreign markets.

5. Expanding the Early Warning System: The Commerce Department will strengthen and expand "Export Alert!," a free, web-based service to disseminate market intelligence and information on standards developments in key priority foreign markets in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

6. Partnering with the President's Export Council on Standards Leadership: The Commerce Department will support the development of a dialogue on standards within the proposed President's Export Council subcommittee on technology and competitiveness.

7. Reaching out to U.S. Industry: The Commerce Department will host a series of industry-specific roundtables to gather input from U.S. industry on the most pressing standards issues and priority foreign markets.

8. Appointing a Liaison at the International Trade Administration: A senior official will be named to act as ITA's Standards Liaison with U.S. industry to ensure that industry's priorities on standards are promoted through the Commerce Department's international policies and programs, and will also work closely with other U.S. government agencies.

The Commerce Department is already currently actively engaged in a number of activities related to standards. These include ensuring recognition and use of globally relevant and internationally recognized standards domestically and in the global marketplace; promoting worldwide acceptance of U.S. test and calibration data to facilitate the marketing of U.S. products; and providing assistance to other government agencies, industry, trade associations, exporters, and standards developing organizations.

For a full copy of the Standards Initiative, click here.