Friday, July 19, 2013

Technical standards deal signed at U.S.-EU trade talks

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre European signed a new agreement to collaborate in developing technical standards, as the two governments continue negotiations towards a major new trade agreement.

One of the key difficulties in opening up U.S. and EU trade has been standards-setting, and the pact is a step towards resolving the problem. Signed in the US Capitol Building by JRC Director General Dominique Ristori and NIST Director Patrick Gallagher, the deal will permit the two agencies to exchange more information and expertise in 10 sectors, including energy and medicines.

Officials welcomed it as a sign of the willingness of both sides to find a route through the complex trade issues – from agriculture to financial services to genetically modified foods – that will have to be resolved to achieve their goal of a comprehensive trade agreement by the end of 2014.

For more of the ScienceBusiness.net story: bulletin.sciencebusiness.net 

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