NIST VCAT Working Group on Trade

May 8, 2017
Findings

1. The framers of the U.S. Constitution recognized the need for a trusted neutral 

party to develop and maintain standards to facilitate the efficient operation of free 

and fair markets. - NIST develops and maintains measurement and 

documentary standards supporting American industry and commerce.

2. As technology advances there is an ongoing need to refine existing standards 

and to develop new ones. - NIST research in measurement science keeps pace 

with scientific advances and innovations in technology thereby supporting both 

the growth of existing industries and the establishment of new ones.

3. As American companies face growing competition from foreign enterprises and 

rely more on global supply chains they become increasingly dependent on 

standards to assure fair competition and to underpin contracts with international 

suppliers and customers. - As a leader in measurement science and technology, 

NIST works with other measurement standards organizations around the world to 

realize internationally accepted measurement and documentary standards.
Recommendations: Continue

• Continue to ensure that its measurement research, services and data are leveraged to remove barriers to trade by:

• Evolving measurement standards keeping pace with developing technology

• Working with other measurement standards organizations to ensure global adoption of documentary standards 

that facilitate fair trade

• Supporting businesses in their use of measurement and documentary standards

• The capabilities that will be critical for the NIST Director to fulfill his/her authority to serve as the President’s principal 

advisor on standards policy are:

• Being respected as a global authority in all aspects of measurement standards based on NIST’s being 

recognized as a leader in measurement science

• Ability to work at multiple levels with other national standards organizations to develop documentary standards

• Ability to support businesses in their use of measurement and documentary standards
Recommendations: Increase Effort

• Ensure that its measurement research, services and data are leveraged to remove barriers to trade by:

• Anticipating areas where advancing technologies will provide opportunities for economic growth and will require 

corresponding advances in measurement science

• Key opportunities for NIST’s engagement in standards efforts to continue to support U.S. exports are

• Maintaining leadership in developing measurement science especially in rapidly advancing fields such as communications, 

network and information security, autonomy and bio-medical technology.

• The capabilities that will be critical for the NIST Director to fulfill his/her authority to serve as the President’s principal advisor on 

standards policy are

• Strategic Planning - basing decisions on where to invest in new measurement science on sound insight into where 

scientific advances are needed to support economic growth

• Technology transfer - working with industry to reduce economic and technical barriers to the adoption of new measurement 

technology

• Productivity - looking for ways to improve productivity across the measurement lifecycle.