This piece was originally published in the September/October 2019 issue of electroindustry.

Craig Updyke, Director, Trade and Commercial Affairs, NEMA

As U.S. and Chinese trade officials resumed negotiations in July over tariffs, technology, and protection of intellectual property, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Office of Standards and Investment Policy brought to light a paper by a unit of the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) on SAC’s engagement in and plans for international Standardization. Elements of the strategy include adoption and mutual recognition of Standards with countries participating in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative to build new infrastructure in participating partner countries. Citing successes to date in integration and development of Standardization and innovation, including in the area of advanced manufacturing, the paper also calls for international technical exchanges and ascendant Chinese leadership in Standards developing organizations.

China continues to implement a new Standardization Law that establishes a joint government–industry Standardization system that defines five levels of Standards: national, industry, local, group, and corporate. ei