CSCA Standards Advocacy In China:

Through the Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP), the Department of Commerce supports the efforts of several U.S.-domiciled standards organizations to establish a presence in China and enhance cooperation with their Chinese counterparts. These public-private partnerships help level they playing field for U.S. exporters by helping China to develop standards in an open, transparent, and impartial way. Ultimately, this will help China to meet its World Trade Organization obligations.

An MDCP grant to four U.S. entities: the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASTM international (ASTM), the American Petroleum Institute (API), and CSA-America created the Consortium on Standards and Conformity Assessment (CSCA). In May 2005, CSCA established an office in Beijing, China that serves as a continuous presence and enables consortium members to develop relationships with key Chinese officials, governmental and non-governmental bodies responsible for the development, promulgation, and enforcement of standards and conformity assessment. Furthermore, CSCA enables a closer partnership between the consortium and appropriate U.S. Department of Commerce offices that have established ties with the Chinese government in many aspects of trade.

Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC) Forum MDCP Grant:

In October 2003, the ATSC Forum was selected for the MDCP Program to promote the adoption of the U.S. standard for digital television throughout the Western Hemisphere. The ATSC Forum estimates that hemispheric adoption of the U.S. standard for digital television will triple the size of the market and result in nearly $8 billion in U.S. exports of broadcast transmission equipment, components for digital television consumer products, and programming and other content exports over the next 10 years. The economies of scale will not only lower prices, but also encourage further cooperation and investments in research and development and hasten the delivery of innovative, high-value services throughout the region. The ATSC Forum used its MDCP grant to strongly advocate for adoption of its standard.

National Electrical Manufacturers Association MDCP Grant:

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) received an MDCP Award in FY 2004 for China standards activities. NEMA has opened an office in Beijing to provide members with information regarding local electrical standards and advice on meeting those standards. NEMA’s Beijing staff also works with local government and industry officials to develop standards compatible with those in the U.S. As part of this award, NEMA has organized seminars in China for member on IPR, Energy Efficiency, Restriction on Hazardous Substances, Fuses. NEMA's Beijing staff have also provided expert consultation to dozens of NEMA member companies involved in the Chinese market.