For the first time, ASTM International has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the national standards body of China, the Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China (SAC). The event took place August 20 in Beijing.
Following the signing, ASTM President James Thomas stated, “ASTM standards have a century of history in the world's marketplace helping to ensure good quality products and accurate testing procedures. With China's trade topping $400 billion for both imports and exports in 2003, standards are of the utmost importance. The signing of this MOU with the SAC is a great step forward to encouraging greater access to ASTM standards in China as well as a bigger voice by Chinese experts in the content of ASTM standards.”