Reflecting China's Commitment to Increased Cooperation, ANSI and Shanghai Association for Standardization Co-Host Seminar on Economic Globalization and Standardization

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A decade after its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), China has become the United States' fastest-growing export market and one of the nation's largest trading partners. The past ten years have witnessed significant progress in China, including strengthening its global cooperation, enhancing its integration into the world economy, and rapidly increasing its participation in international trade. China's accession to the WTO has also resulted in meaningful trade opportunities for U.S. businesses, with exports to China rising 468 percent since 2000.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of China's accession to the WTO and further encourage implementation of key WTO principles of openness and transparency, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) joined the Shanghai Association of Standardization (SAS) in organizing an international seminar on November 16 in Shanghai. Held in conjunction with the Science Forum of China's International Industry Fair in Shanghai, the seminar focused on the influence of the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement on global trade, and the role of international standardization in driving innovation and economic development.

"Opportunities for open dialogue among the U.S., China, and other countries are critical to facilitating smoother market access for global companies and encouraging industry participation in standardization activities," said ANSI president and CEO S. Joe Bhatia. "As a co-organizer of this workshop, ANSI is pleased to be at the forefront of such initiatives. We look forward to continued partnerships and dialogues with our partners in China."

Following remarks from the organizers and other officials such as Ji Zhengkun, president of the China Association for Standardization, participants heard keynote speeches from experts in international standardization and global trade. Shi Baoquan, vice administrator of the Standardization Administration of China (SAC); Erik Wijkstrom, counselor in the Trade and Environment Department at the WTO; and Damien Lee, technical officer at the International Electrotechnical Cooperation (IEC) Asia Pacific Regional Center, all spoke about the importance of standardization in global trade and the approach of their respective organizations.

The morning session also included policy-focused presentations from the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision (TSB), and a presentation by Bryan O'Byrne of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), who spoke about the importance of the WTO TBT Agreement to industry and developing good regulatory practices.

The afternoon session included international speakers from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry, China's General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), and ANSI. Finally, industry perspectives and case studies were provided by the Shanghai Electrical Group and ANSI accredited standards developing organizations (SDOs) IPC and ASME. The final agenda is available here; linked presentations are available for ANSI members.

The seminar received broad coverage by the media in China. A sampling of this coverage follows:

• Shanghai Government Website
• Sina.com
• Jiefang Daily (Liberation Daily) - official daily of Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China
• Hexun.com  
• Phoenix media
• China Quality Net

For additional information, please contact Elise Owen, ANSI director of international development, at [email protected].

About ANSI
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. The Institute represents the diverse interests of more than 125,000 companies and organizations and 3.5 million professionals worldwide. The Institute is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and is a U.S. representative to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

SOURCE American National Standards Institute