Background of Codes & Standards Legislation

In March 2003, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) issued a report entitled,  "A Call to Action to Strengthen U.S. Competitiveness," which recognized that “standards and standards-related technical regulations are pervasive features of global commerce, affecting an estimated 80 percent of world commodity trade.”  The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is developing an assessment of standards activities in all existing Commerce Department programs and current efforts to reduce standards-related barriers to foreign markets.  Prior initiatives by NIST focused on enhancing training programs for standards liaisons and Foreign Commercial Service Officers posted at embassies abroad.