U.S. companies have the chance to make or increase sales in the booming Chinese market by joining Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez as he leads a delegation of U.S. businesses, representing a broad cross-section of industries on the Business Development Mission to Beijing and Shanghai from November 13-17, 2006. The Mission will assist U.S. businesses to initiate or expand their exports to China’s leading industry sectors by making business-to-business introductions, providing market access information, and providing access to government decision makers.
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The International Federation of Standards Users (IFAN) will host a workshop on “Application of Standards in China and Beyond” on 25-26 October 2006 in Beijing. The objective of the workshop is to achieve a deeper level of understanding of Chinese and non-Chinese standards; to exchange views and information on the application of standards (benefits and challenges); and to study more profoundly the standardization and technical regulation systems in China. The workshop is open to Chinese and foreign participants. Membership of IFAN is not essential, however attendance is limited and so priority will be given to IFAN members.
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The U.S. standardization and conformity assessment community will celebrate World Standards Week 2006 with a blend of stimulating meetings, events and ceremonies from Monday, October 9 through Friday, October 13, 2006, in Washington, DC. ANSI-members and non-members from the global standards and conformity assessment community are invited to attend. Please follow the link below for event details, sponsorship packages, pricing and registration information.
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The U.S.-China Standards and IP Symposium will discuss the relationship between standards and IP and their policy impact on innovation and competitiveness. Two major topics will be highlighted in the event: 1) Standards and IP: Coordination and Innovation and 2) IPR Management in Standardization. Speakers will include representatives from the U.S. and Chinese governments and private sectors.

This program is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Standardization Administration of China (SAC). This program is scheduled for Sept. 18-19, 2006 (one and one half days) in Beijing and Sept. 21, 2006 (one day) in Shenzhen. Seating is limited; registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
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The Options for Action Summit, was hosted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on July 18 and 19, 2006, in Gaithersburg, MD. The Summit brought together executives from standards developers and corporations, key government agency representatives and members of the academic community to identify possible standards-related actions that can make the U.S more competitive internationally.
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The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) hosted the Open Forum for Standards Developers in New York City on June 20-21, 2006. The event brought together standards developers of all kinds — including consortia and other forums and ANSI-accredited and non-accredited standards developers — for the purpose of identifying opportunities for cooperation, collaboration and harmonization. The Open Forum for Standards Developers welcomed more than 100 stakeholders from nearly 60 different standards developing organizations, consortia and other forums, industry, government and consumers. View Event Proceedings