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Professional Associations, Institutions, Institutes, Standards bodies
News Release from: ASTM International | Subject: ASTM International
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 28 May 2004
ASTM International supports DOC
standards findings
ASTM International has announced that it supports the assessment on standards issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce to reduce standards-related trade barriers.
ASTM International has announced that it supports the assessment on standards issued by the U.S Department of Commerce (DOC)
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 19 Apr 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Titled Standards and Competitiveness - Coordinating for Results, the new report, issued yesterday, assesses the Commerce Department's activities to reduce standards-related trade barriers and recommends steps to increase the reach and effectiveness of the DOC and other federal agencies' coordination of trade-related standards and conformity assessment.
In a press conference on Tuesday, 18 May 2004, Commerce Secretary Donald L.
Evans said, "We have good news to tell.
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The Department has made tangible improvements in how we tackle standards-related issues that can distort trade and undermine the competitiveness of U.S.
products.
And there are more improvements to come." Affecting an estimated 80% of world trade, standards are critical to manufacturing competitiveness in global markets, as they can facilitate international trade or impede access to foreign markets, the report explains.
In March 2003, the Commerce Department announced an eight-point initiative in response to growing concern by U.S.
industry, trade associations, and standards development organizations regarding foreign standards development and technical regulation as important trade issues.
Over the past year, ASTM International has been involved with this DOC initiative in the form of participation in industry roundtables, identifying priority standards issues in international markets, and commenting on training programs for commercial service officers.
James A.
Thomas, president of ASTM International, says, "We are pleased that the level of standards awareness has been raised through this initiative.
We look forward to implementation of the recommendations in the report." The 50 recommendations contained in the report will help the Commerce Department identify new opportunities and better ways to work with the private sector and other U.S.
government agencies on standards-related issues.
ASTM International will follow Commerce Secretary Evans' call to review the report and advise the Department of Commerce on priorities for follow-up efforts.
The full report, as well as Secretary Evans' news conference remarks, can be accessed at the U.S.
Department of Commerce website www.commerce.gov.
Established in 1898, ASTM International provides a global forum for the development and publication of voluntary international consensus standards for materials, products, systems, and services.
ASTM International standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions around the globe.
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