Getting Standards Right for Industry Makes Canada More Competitive

OTTAWA, ON – April 26, 2016 – The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is working on cross-border harmonization and joint development of standards that will facilitate the flow of trade between Canada and the United States. This will reduce duplication, increase the efficiency of supply chains, lower costs for exporters and importers, and facilitate the development of joint technical standards for new technology sectors. Our goal is one standard and one test accepted in both countries.

“It’s time for us to step up and work with industry to harmonize standards," says John Walter, CEO of the Standards Council of Canada. "Getting standards right for industry benefits us all. This work will strengthen our economic ties with the United States and make the Canadian economy even more competitive.  One standard and one test accepted in both countries is what we all need.”

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Working with stakeholders, SCC recently selected pilot projects for harmonized Canada-U.S. standards development in the areas of plumbing and personal flotation devices. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Underwriters Laboratories Canada (ULC) have been instrumental in this work.

Standards and conformity assessment play a key role in supporting economic growth and in facilitating trade. However, duplicative standards, testing and certification requirements within a regional market can act as a barrier to trade and can have a negative impact on productivity and competitiveness. Differences in standards and regulations within Canada, and between Canada and other countries, are costly and exacerbate the price gap between consumer products in Canada and the United States.

Supporting industry through standardization helps the flow of goods and services across our borders which creates millions of jobs and fuels our economies. Canada and the United States have the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world. Trade in goods and services between both countries totaled almost C$870 billion in 2014, while trade in goods alone between all NAFTA partners (including Mexico) surpassed US$1.12 trillion.

SCC will continue to work with industry associations and stakeholders, including Standards Development Organizations, to identify more opportunities for joint Canada-U.S. standards development activities. Results will be shared as work progresses.

Through the harmonization of standards, SCC is helping to set the stage for Canada’s long-term growth, particularly in sectors that are vital to their economy.