Standards, conformity assessment, and trade into the 21st century / International Standards, Conformity Assessment, and U.S. Trade Policy Project Committee, Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). International Standards, Conformity Assessment, and U.S. Trade Policy Project Committee.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Quality control--Standards--United States.

Quality control.

Manufactures--Quality control--Standards--United States.

Manufactures.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (252 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1995.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Mandated standards used for vehicle airbags, International Organization for Standards (ISO) standards adopted for photographic film, de facto standards for computer software--however they arise, standards play a fundamental role in the global marketplace. Standards, Conformity Assessment, and Trade provides a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of the link between standards, product testing and certification, and U.S. economic performance. The book includes recommendations for streamlining standards development, increasing the efficiency of product testing and certification, and promoting the success of U.S. exports in world markets. The volume offers a critical examination of organizations involved in standards and identifies the urgent improvements needed in the U.S. system for conformity assessment, in which adherence to standards is assessed and certified. Among other key issues, the book explores the role of government regulation, laboratory accreditation, and the overlapping of multiple quality standards in product development and manufacturing. In one of the first treatments of this subject, Standards, Conformity Assessment, and Trade offers a unique and highly valuable analysis of the impact of standards and conformity assessment on global trade.

Contents:

Standards, Conformity Assessment, and Trade

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Executive Summary

CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT

STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

ADDRESSING FUTURE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE

1 Introduction

FUNCTIONS OF STANDARDS

Commercial Communication

Technology Diffusion

Productive Efficiency

Enhanced Competition

Compatibility

Process Management

Public Welfare

STANDARDS, CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT, AND PUBLIC POLICY

Assessing the U.S. System

U. S. International Trade Policy

NOTES

2 Standards Development

SCOPE OF THE U.S. SYSTEM

PRIVATE-SECTOR STANDARDS

Economic Rationale for Consensus Standardization

Voluntary Consensus Standardization Processes

Standards-Developing Organizations

American National Standards Institute

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT

GOVERNMENT ROLE IN STANDARDIZATION

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Federal Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards

Public-Private Cooperation

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

3 Conformity Assessment

CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM FRAMEWORK

TESTING AND CERTIFICATION

Product Testing

Product Certification

Private and Public Certification Programs in the United States

QUALITY SYSTEM REGISTRATION

ACCREDITATION AND RECOGNITION

Accreditation Services

Costs of Redundancy in U.S. Accreditation

Government Recognition of Accreditation Services

4 International Trade

STANDARDS, TRADE, AND U.S. ECONOMIC PROGRESS

Standards and the Economic Benefits of Trade Expansion

Cost of Protection: Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade

Barriers to Trade in Key U.S. Export Markets

MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM: THE URUGUAY ROUND

Membership and Expansion of Scope.

Coverage of Conformity Assessment

Extension of Coverage to Nongovernmental Organizations

Dispute Settlement

U.S. TRADE POLICY AND SECTION 301

Overview of U.S. Trade Policy Formation and Implementation

Private-Sector Advisory Mechanisms

Removing Standards-Related Trade Barriers: Section 301

MUTUAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENTS

Background: Product Approval in the European Union

U.S.-European Union MRA Negotiations

Mutual Recognition Agreements: APEC

U.S. EXPORT PROMOTION

U.S. Export Promotion Policy

Case Example: Emerging Standards and Conformity Assessment Systems in Indonesia

A Model for Standards Assistance Activities

5 Recommendations to Address Future Challenges and Opportunities

MEETING FUTURE CHALLENGES

Appendixes

Appendix A New Developments in International Standards and Global Trade: A Conference Summary

The Post-Uruguay Round Trade Outlook: Economic Benefits Of International Trade

The Post-Uruguay Round Trade Outlook: Standards And Technical Barriers To Trade

Standards And Technical Barriers To Trade: The European And Gatt Approaches

National Standards And Conformity Assessment Systems In Overseas Markets: A U.S. Perspective

National Standards And Conformity Assessment Systems In Overseas Markets: A European Perspective

The Administration's Defense Acquisition Reform Policies

The U.S. Government Role In Standards And Conformity Assessment

A Government Agency Perspective

A Private-Sector Perspective

Industry-Government Cooperation in Regulation and International Standards

Comments and Concerns

Sectoral Case Studies: Telecommunications And Information Technology

Telecommunications

Information Technology.

New Developments In International Standards And Global Trade

Participants List

Appendix B Legislative Request for the Study: Public Law 102-245

Appendix C Biographical Information on Committee and Staff

Committee Members

Professional Staff

Appendix DGlossary and Acronyms

Glossary

Acronyms

Appendix E Selected Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-228) and index.

ISBN:

0-309-58788-3

0-585-02341-7

OCLC:

42328995