Transcript Document
Learning Module Series Introduction to Standards and Trade 1 Outline ASTM International Overview US Standards System US Government’s Role World Trade Organization 2 ASTM International – An Overview • Organized in 1898 • The largest U.S.-based standards developer • Non-governmental, notfor-profit organization 3 What is a Standard? Technical document developed by consensus 4 ASTM International Standards Development Process Provides a management system for the development of voluntary, consensus standards Does not provide certification, testing or accreditation services 5 ASTM Technical Committees 140 technical committees • • • • • • • • • 6 Consumer Products Steel Petroleum Construction/Building Plastics Paint Textiles Environmental Medical Devices Many, many more 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 7 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 8 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 9 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” 10 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. 11 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) 12 US Government and Trade ITA’s Standards and Competitiveness Report USTR Trade Policy 13 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 14 Rules of Trade World Trade Organization (WTO) o 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 15 Standards as Key Components of Trade WTO / TBT Principles 16 16 ASTM Principles Transparency Transparency Openness Openness Impartiality and consensus Impartiality and consensus Effectiveness and relevance Effectiveness and relevance Coherence Coherence Consideration of developing nations Consideration of developing nations 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 17 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. 18 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 19 Contact Information Jim Olshefsky Anthony Quinn • Director, External Relations • Director, Public Policy and International Trade • [email protected] • [email protected] www.astm.org www.astm.org/GLOBAL/ 20 Thank You ASTM International Learning Module Series www.astm.org 21