Commerce seeks to reduce standards-related trade barriers

Declaring "a new Commerce partnership with industry to combat standards as trade barriers to American goods and services," Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans this week unveiled a report outlining what has been done and what the Department intends to do to help U.S. industry and U.S. standards developers, such as ASME, compete in the global marketplace.

"Standards and related technical regulations affect an estimated 80 percent of world trade," Evans stated at a news conference. "The recommendations in this report can improve how we tackle standards-related issues that distort trade and undermine our competitiveness."

The report, "Standards and Competitiveness — Coordinating for Results," is the result of 13 Commerce-sponsored roundtables involving more than 200 industry and standards-related organizations, including ASME. It is also a progress report on an eight-point Standards Initiative that Secretary Evans issued in March 2003.

"We are gratified by the Commerce Department's seriousness in focusing on standards-related barriers to trade," said June Ling, ASME Associate Executive Director, Codes and Standards. "The high level of commitment exhibited by the Commerce Department, as evidenced by Secretary Evans's personal release of the report, signals a strong future in public and private sector collaboration to promote competitiveness and to ensure inclusiveness of market relevant standards in the global governmental community."

To read the report online or to download a copy, go to www.commerce.gov/opa/press/2004. Click on releases for May 18, and look for "Evans Releases Report ... "

DHS works on visa reforms for foreign scientists, engineers

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Stewart Verdery, responding to concerns raised by the science and engineering communities, stated at a congressional briefing that the department is well aware of problems with foreign scientists and engineers accessing visas for travel to the United States.

Verdery said that the Department of Homeland Security understands the "severe damage" that could occur if foreign scientists are denied admittance to the United States, and that the department is about halfway through a reform program designed to ease the waiting time for foreign scientists and engineers as well as perhaps lengthening visa time limits for qualified individuals.

James Langer, vice president of the National Academy of Sciences, told congressional staff at the briefing that the visa process for foreign nationals now takes two months longer than it did prior to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. While he was cognizant of the concerns of the department, he said the United States "must not allow the terrorists to shut off this source of science."

He offered the academy's help in vouching for the reputations of foreign scientists and engineers, noting that it would make sense for government officials in highly research-dependent agencies like the Department of Energy to be able to vouch for scientists and engineers they have worked with in the past.

The situation for industry is approaching the point where vital research involving scientists and engineers who are not Americans is being conducted abroad, where visa requirements are not as strict, according to Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who co-chairs the Senate Science and Technology Caucus.

— Francis Dietz
ASME Government Relations

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