EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 INTRODUCTION
- Functions of Standards
- Commercial Communication
- Technology Diffusion
- Productive Efficiency
- Enhanced Competition
- Compatibility
- Process Management
- Public Welfare
- Conformity Assessment
- Standards, Conformity Assessment, and Public Policy
- Assessing the U.S. System
- Public Welfare
- U.S. International Trade Policy
2 STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
- Scope of the U.S. System
- Private-Sector Standards
- Economic Rationale for Consensus Standardization
- Voluntary Consensus Standardization Processes
- Standards-Developing Organizations
- Professional Societies
- Industry Associations
- Membership Organizations
- Consortia
- 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
- Summary and Conclusions
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
- Summary and Conclusions
5 RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS FUTURE
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
- Conformity Assessment
- Standards Development
- International Trade,
- Meeting Future Challenges
APPENDIXES
A New Developments in International Standards and Global Trade:
A Conference Summary
John S. Wilson, John M. Godfrey, Holly Grell-Lawe
B Legislative Request for the Study: Public Law 102-245
C Biographical Information on Committee and Staff
D Glossary and Acronyms
E Selected Bibliography
INDEX