NIST'S STANDARDS IN TRADE WORKSHOP PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING RECOMMENDATIONS

U.S. industry and other stakeholders are encouraged to submit recommendations to the Standards in Trade (SIT) Workshop Program for future workshops.   Recommendations may be submitted at any time and will be considered on a quarterly basis.  Please read all of the information below prior to submitting a recommendation.

BACKGROUND

Since 1995, U.S. industry has looked to the NIST Standards in Trade program to provide opportunities for cooperation on important topics related to standards, conformity assessment and trade that are vital to the success of their businesses.  SIT workshops are designed to introduce U.S. stakeholders to emerging standards and conformity assessment issues in other countries and regions; identify regulatory information and market access issues; and provide timely information to foreign officials on U.S. practices in standards, metrology, and conformity assessment. Improved understanding of U.S. standards, conformity assessment and regulatory practices by foreign governments and private sector officials helps to provide an important basis for improving trade opportunities in key foreign markets, particularly those where standards and conformity assessment practices differ substantially from those in the United States.  Each SIT workshop is targeted to aid U.S. industry in becoming more competitive in foreign markets through increased transparency of market and regulatory requirements and/or promotion and use of international standards, U.S. approaches and information exchange, thus increasing trade opportunities and exports. The goals of the program are directly aligned with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and NIST missions.

In 2003, NIST began soliciting public input on topics for SIT workshops via the Federal Register.  The SIT program criteria have since been updated to reflect the current priorities and initiatives of the Administration, DOC, and NIST.  The process for submitting recommendations has also been updated. 

The most recent Federal Register Notice was published on April 18, 2012, and is included in the Additional Information and Resources section below.  It is strongly recommended that anyone submitting a recommendation for consideration carefully read the Federal Register Notice and all of the information in the Additional Information and Resources section below.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

NIST will consider the following when evaluating recommendations:  Does the recommended workshop align with the Administration and/or NIST priorities?  Is the workshop recommendation compatible with or complementary to these priorities?  Is the recommended country, countries or region identified in the National Export Strategy as a key market (target market, next tier market or mature market)?  Is the product sector export-intensive and/or have the potential to enhance U.S. export opportunities?  Is the recommended country/region developing infrastructure?  Is there a need for standards and conformity assessment to support the changes?  Have or will new regulations be proposed that will impact market entry for U.S. industry?  Is there a market access issue in a specific sector, country or region?  If appropriate, is there support from a regulatory or other federal agency for the workshop recommendation?  Is there a significant and possible long-term commitment from U.S. industry stakeholders to support the recommended workshop and the goals and objectives of the recommended workshop?     

DOCUMENTS:

1)      Federal Register Notice, April 18, 2012 – Request for Technical Input – Standards in Trade Workshops 

2)      The National Export Strategy: Powering the National Export Initiative 

3)      NIST’s Three-Year Programmatic Plan FY2012-FY2014

4)      Additional information about the NIST Standards in Trade Workshop Program is available at http://gsi.nist.gov/global/index.cfm/L1-4/L2-14.

All recommendations must be submitted through the webform on this site. Once you begin the submission process you will need to complete it in the same session. You will not be able to save and return to your work at a later time. It is strongly recommended that you review the questions in advance and prepare your responses prior to beginning the submission process. Questions may be viewed in advance here.

Submit a Workshop Recommendation to SIT 

For further information contact:  Standards in Trade Workshop Program Coordinators at (301) 975-5503 or (301) 975-3882 or send an e-mail to sit@nist.gov.