Global Network of Standards Experts
To assist U.S. companies in overcoming standards-related barriers in foreign markets, NIST cooperates with the Department of Commerce's U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service to place standards experts in U.S. Embassies in key markets - in Brussels, Belgium (to interface with the European Commission), Mexico, Brazil, and China - and to support these experts once in place. All standards experts work with U.S. business, other U.S. government agencies, and foreign counterpart organizations to identify and remove technical barriers to trade. Standards-related information and on-the-ground assistance in key markets is critical to U.S. exports and competitiveness. NIST recommends qualified experts for consideration by the Commercial Service, provides training for both government and non-government experts prior to their placement, and assigns a technical liaison at NIST for each standards expert in the field to serve as primary contact for technical data and pertinent standards-related information. NIST participation in this program is important to the acceptance of the standards experts by foreign government (and private sector) technical counterparts. NIST and the Commercial Service have signed a Memorandum of Agreement covering both formal and working relationships associated with the assignment of standards experts to selected U.S. Embassies. The Memorandum of Agreement outlines the respective responsibilities of NIST and the Commercial Service, and also details the scope of activity associated with the standards expert positions. Under the Agreement, standards experts are tasked to work with U.S. business, other U.S. government agencies, and foreign organizations to identify and remove technical barriers to trade in the specific country and region where assigned by: - providing technical support on a regional basis on standards-related issues that might affect U.S. Government agencies and U.S. companies;
- providing technical assistance on standards-related issues to foreign government and private-sector bodies that establish policies, technical regulations or voluntary standards and conformity assessment practices that might affect market access for U.S. exports;
- arranging and participating in technical assistance projects and workshops targeted at participants from the region of assignment, either at NIST or abroad; and
- interacting with and participating in regional or national standards and conformity assessment organizations to promote U.S. objectives.
Current Standards Experts:
| Brazil (for South America) Mr. Alan Long
Commercial Service
U.S. Embassy Brasilia
Unit 3500
APO AA 34030 European Union Mr. Louis Santamaria, Standards Attaché
U.S. Mission to the EU
U.S. Commercial Service
Regentlaan 27 Boulevard de Regent
1000 Brussels
Belgium or from outside the U.S.: U.S. Mission to the EU
U.S. Commercial Service
PSC 82, Box 002
APO AE 09710
Phone:32-2-508-2425
FAX:32-2-512-6653
e-mail: louis.santamaria@mail.doc.gov Ms. Sylvia Mohr, Standards Specialist
U.S. Mission to the EU
U.S. Commercial Service
Regentlaan 27 Boulevard de Regent
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Phone:32-2-508-2425
FAX:32-2-512-6653
e-mail: Sylvia.Mohr@mail.doc.gov | Mexico (for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean) Mr. Dale Wright
Commercial Service
U.S. Embassy Mexico City
P.O. Box 3087
Laredo, TX 78044-3087 or from outside the U.S.: U.S. Trade Center
Liverpool 31, Col. Juarez
06600 Mexico, D.F.
Phone:52-55-5140-2603
FAX:52-55-5566-1115
China Mr. Mark Lewis, Standards Officer
US Embassy Beijing
Beijing Kerry Center, 31 Fl. North Tower
Beijing, China 100020
T: 86-10-8529-6655 ext. 503
F: 86-10-8529-6700
email: mark.lewis@mail.doc.gov
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