Time to take stock

Abstract

As business becomes more and more global, we can no longer assume U.S. technology and standards will automatically be accepted everywhere. Emerging economies with the potential for explosive growth are looking to international organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for standards. With mature industries such as welding, many ISO standards do no reflect United States' needs or established practices. In fact, ISO standards are diverging from United States' standards as the European Union aggressively and successfully promotes the worldwide use of technology and standards specified by its own standards writing body, CEN. The American Welding Society supports a reduction in duplication and overlap among standards. However, the exclusion of United States' technology and established practices from international standards will be a significant detriment to United States' competitiveness. The United States will lose market share as overseas competitors shape ISO standards to support their own methods and technologies, particularly when some governments specify use of ISO standards. If international trade is important to your business, or if you expect to move into overseas markets in the future, you need to read the article below, written by ASTM President James Thomas. He raises some new and important issues regarding international standards.