Navigating Chinas Standards System

1
Navigating Chinas Standards System
Jenny May International Trade Specialist Office
of Chinese Economic Area U.S. Department of
Commerce
2
Overview

• Landscape of Chinas Standards System.
• Common Challenges.
• Cooperative Efforts on Standards.
• Future Trend.

3
Background

• Long history of standards setting.
• Historically, all standards development and most
  RD driven by the government.
• Transition phase of new laws and legal system.
• Emerging economy based on manufacturing
• Growing market/middle class.
• Recognition of importance of standards in global
  markets.

4
Chinese Standards System Observations

• Centralized, top- down structure.
• Regulatory reform, transitional stage.
• Pre-WTO rules and regulations.
• Focused on indigenous products.

5
Chinas Technical Standards Strategic Plan

• Improve the adaptability of technical standards
  to technological, trade, industrial and market
  demands.
• Joint development of standards by greater
  cooperation between government and enterprises.
• Develop indigenous technical standards to be
  competitive with international norms.

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Strategic Goals

• By 2010, form a complete national technical
  standard system on a par with international
  standards.
• By 2020, upgrade the overall technological level
  of Chinas technical standards in key areas to
  enable China to become a contributor to
  international standards.

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Centralized System
8
Major Functions of AQSIQ
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Major Functions of SAC

• Strategize PRC standardization plan.
• Promulgate national standards (GB).
• Manage and coordinate technical committees work.
• Represent China in ISO, IEC and ITU activities.

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Major Functions of CNCA

• Implement Chinas conformity assessment related
  rules and regulations.
• Oversee Chinas Compulsory Certification regime.
• Represent China in international activities,
  including IAF, PAC, IPC, APLAC, ISO and IEC,
  related to conformity assessment.
• Oversee activities by foreign owned or joint
  venture conformity assessment bodies.

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Four Types of Standards

• National Standards (GB) by SAC.
• Industry Standards (YD) by ministries.
• Sectoral Standards by enterprises.
• Regional Standards by local authorities.

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Examples of Involved Agencies
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Standards Challenges

• Impartiality need independent SDOs and
  conformity assessment bodies.
• Openness/Transparency.
• Inter-agency coordination.
• Local protectionism.

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Standards Cooperation with China

• Seeking a level playing field
• Objective Greater clarity and transparency in
  Chinese standards and technical regulations.
• Outreach Programs our interactions with Chinese
  ministries to achieve common understandings on
  their standards and technical regulations.

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Multi-pronged approach for tackling standards
concerns

• Address specific issue.
• Public-Private cooperation.
• Training and capacity building.

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Address Specific Concerns

• Sector-Specific Programs
• U.S.-China Chemicals Dialogue (2005 - present)
• U.S.-China Roundtable and DVC on Restriction of
  Hazardous Substances (RoHS) (1/06)
• U.S.-China Symposium on Standards and IPR (9/06).
• ANSI-NIST-SAC Technical Dialogue on Standards
  (5/07).
• Standards in Trade Workshop with China led by the
  National Institute of Standards and Technology
  (NIST) on intelligent transportation systems and
  energy efficiency (05/07, 08/07).

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Address Specific Concerns Engagement with China
on Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)

• Digital Video Conference (DVC) Oct, 06
• - Face-to-face industry to government
  discussion.
• Clarifications of product range.
• Potential catalog scope.
• Status upcoming standards.
• - Encourage China to notify the WTO on draft
  standards.
• - Involved entities MII, CNCA, CQC, CESI.
• - 90 U.S. industry reps participated in the
  DVC.

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Engagement with MII on China RoHS

• Bilateral meeting in Washington, DC Oct, 06
• Encouraged MII to continue to be transparent.
• Identify China RoHS POC to address U.S industry
  questions. (chinaRoHS_at_MII.gov.cn).
• Pressed the issue on RoHS effective date
  manufacturing date vs. sales date.
• Encouraged MII to notify related standards to the
  WTO.
• Pressed the importance of U.S. industrys
  participation in the standards working group.

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Next steps

• Continue to monitor the development of China
  RoHS.
• Need your input to help us determine open issues
  and next steps.
• Continue engagement with Chinese regulatory
  agencies.

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U.S. private sector China activities

• Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP)-
  supported standards activities in China
• U.S. Information Technology Office (USITO).
• National Electrical Manufacturers Association
  Office.
• Consortia of Standards and Conformity Assessment.
• Natural Product Association office.
• ASTM International Beijing Office.
• ANSIs U.S.-China Standards Portal.
• http//www.standardsportal.org.cn/splash/default.a
  spx

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Current Perspective and Trends

• Poised to become a top ranking contributor of
  international standards.
• Increased Chinese involvement with international
  standards.
• To meet WTO/TBT demands and align with
  international standards.
• Western concern about PRC government intervention.

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Thank you!

• Jenny May
• Office of Chinese Economic Area
• Jenny.may_at_mail.doc.gov
• www.export.gov/china
• Tel [phone]