NIST Standards in Trade Program: A Review of the Current Program and Analysis ofAlternative Approaches

摘要

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is the federalgovernment's multipurpose technology partner for U.S. industry. As an agency of the Commerce Department's Technology Administration, NIST promote economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and standards. NIST provides the research, products, services, and cost-shared funding that U.S. industry continually needs to overcome barriers to commerce in new or improved, and less expensive products. NIST also supports trade through the domestic Weights and Measures System; internationally through its efforts to establish uniform and accurate measurements in foreign markets; and through the Standards in Trade Program which assists industry in overcoming technical barriers to trade caused by the lack of harmonization of standards, conformity assessment rules, and other technical-based actions that limit U.S. industry's access to markets. Like similar organizations, NIST must continually prioritize its activities and, from time to time, must examine whether some of its programs could be better carried out by industry or by other parts of the federal or local governments. This report first describes our very successful Standards in Trade Program in some detail, then examines the strengths and weaknesses of the program, and finally considers two alternative approaches to carry out this program.