Trade, Today and Tomorrow
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#136 focusYour gateway to International Standards tradetoday and tomorrow #136 42 ISOfocus 14 September-October 2019 2-3 Why international standards are so badly needed Comment by Sergio Mujica. ISOfocus September-October 2019 – ISSN 2226-1095 4-5 You’ve got mail ! ISOfocus, the magazine of the International Organization for Standardization, Travelling the world with ISO members. is published six times a year. You can discover more content on our Website at iso.org/isofocus, or by staying connected with us on : 6-13 Keeping an eye on what matters for the economy TWITTER FACEBOOK YoutubeFlickrlinkedin Talking trade with top economists. Head of Communication | Katie Bird Editor-in-Chief | Elizabeth Gasiorowski-Denis 14-19 The elusive (but essential) Special contributing writer | Ambassador Alan Wolff 20 6 quest for quality Writers | Andrea Barrios Villarreal, Ann Brady, Barnaby Lewis, Clare Naden The vehicle for trust in trade. Copy editor and Proofreader | Vivienne Rojas Designers | Xela Damond, Pierre Granier, Alexane Rosa Translator | Alexandra Florent 20-27 Passport to trade How consumer goods cross continents. Subscriptions and back issues If you enjoy ISOfocus, you can download the pdf for free or subscribe to receive printed issues through our Website iso.org/isofocus. You can also contact our buzz 28-35 How standards can lead customer service at [email protected]. 48-49 A fresh new look for our Website to better lives Contributions You can participate in creating this magazine. If you think your contribution can Celebrating the Apollo 11 Moon The benefits of a level playing field. add value to any of our sections, please get in touch at [email protected]. mission Views expressed are those of the respective contributors and are not necessarily 28 those of ISO or any of its members. Matters of milk 36-41 UN trade expert on standards, © ISO 2019 Poland puts spotlight on Industry 4.0 sustainability and how Published in Switzerland. All rights reserved. to boost exports Articles in this magazine may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. Railway transport experts gather These may not be modified and must be properly referenced, with due credit in Kazakhstan Santiago Fernández de Córdoba to ISO being given. ISO may revoke this permission at its sole discretion. talks to ISOfocus. For enquiries, please contact [email protected]. 42-47 As smooth as silk This magazine is printed on certified Weaving the intricate tapestry FSC ® paper. 36 of global trade. Why International standards help international to achieve a more level standards are so playing field. badly needed or millennia, human beings have been exchanging It is clear that there has never been a greater or more integrating with global markets. When goods and inputs commodities and other goods. In those bygone eras, pressing need for international standards. Transparency, are time-sensitive, international standards on moving traders and camels plied an east-west network of accountability, harmonization and trust are just some of goods from country to country can help to eliminate Ftrade routes, carrying spices and precious metals, porce- the benefits — for society and business alike. costly delays. lain, perfumes, ivory and silk, among other things. The Take supply chains, which extend around the world and The lack of harmonization of technical regulations is another Silk Road, as it became known, is the best-known ancient have become increasingly complex. The car industry in brake on growth — an area where international standards network of trade routes. the United States, for example, depends on thousands can play a significant role. International standards facilitate The benefits to the peoples that lived close to the of parts that are manufactured globally. And this com- the adoption of good regulatory practices by governments Silk Road were numerous. Civilizations and societies plexity is being further impacted by technology, with the and ISO standards are consistent with the commitments flourished and, along with the exchange of goods and increasing production of electric cars causing all parts of of countries under the World Trade Organization (WTO) to commodities, there was also a rich exchange of culture, the automotive supply chain to evolve. reduce technical barriers to trade. ideas, art, medicine and science. The Silk Road enriched Transparency and accountability, for producers and Every country develops at its own pace ; international all our lives. consumers alike, have become significant issues. They standards help to achieve a more level playing field, giving Fast forward to today’s rapidly moving, complex and are particularly important when industries are under- developing countries a better chance of participating interconnected world. We live in a time of uncertainty. going substantial transformations. Provenance, quality, in, and benefitting from, global trade. There is a direct New technologies of the so-called Fourth Industrial and health & safety are also coming under the spotlight link between international standards and enabling Revolution are reshaping our lives and major issues such like never before. International standards are critical to developing-country participation in international trade. as climate change and strained resources need to be tack- ensure that processes, products and services are fit for They help the compatibility of products and services and led urgently. Yet the flow of goods and services between purpose, interchangeable and compatible, and create open doors to new markets. In fact, standards enhance countries is still one of the most important drivers of job better communication across borders. competitive advantages. Enterprise-level surveys con- creation and prosperity. This enhancement of value chains has special signif- ducted by the World Bank Group in developing economies The benefits for those enjoying free trade are obvious. icance when it comes to gender equality, one of the found that certification to ISO 9000 achieved average It brings greater access to higher-quality, lower-priced United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals. As productivity gains between 3 % and 18 % for three goods, it drives competitiveness, it fuels economic growth consumers, producers, traders or employees, women are Central American economies and 5 % in China. and job creation, and it raises the standard of living for key stakeholders. In agriculture, for example, the majority According to the WTO, the outlook remains uncertain. World Sergio Mujica, ISO Secretary-General. many people around the world. A growing body of evi- of workers are women. International standards should be trade will continue to face “ strong headwinds ” this year dence shows that countries more open to trade grow more accessible to enterprises, especially the small and and next, after growing more slowly than expected in 2018. faster over the long run and have higher incomes per medium-sized enterprises that account for the vast majority The WTO stresses the need to focus on charting a positive person than those that remain closed. of jobs in developing and developed countries alike. Many path forward for global trade. In response to the current However, there are winners as well as losers. Many and of these smaller-scale trading firms are run by women who challenges, ISO passed a resolution at its General Assembly significant trade barriers still prevent countries, particu- often face more severe obstacles to trade than their male last year encouraging its members to spread the message larly the poorest, from reaping the full gains of trade. And counterparts. Raising awareness in women-owned firms that a strong multilateral trading system is indispensable according to Oxfam, a charitable organization focused on and helping them to implement international standards for economic and social development and that international the alleviation of poverty, the poorest half of the world would allow them to play a part in global value chains. standards are key to support these goals. They are the solid became 11 % poorer in 2018, while billionaires became When it comes to trade, speed and predictability are foundations on which the pathway to a more inclusive and USD 2.5 billion richer every day. of the essence, especially for developing countries sustainable world for everyone can be built. ■ 2 | ISOfocus_136 ISOfocus_136 | 3 social feed FACEBOOK TWITTERgoogleplusYoutubelinkedin Our very own Cath launched the campaign by announcing a virtual trip around the world, promising a host of postcards. These were sent via Twitter by a number of participating members. The postcards showcased Cath’s You’ve got mail ! adventures in each country and a tourism standard. The campaign The #TravelStandards campaign was a lot of fun, and a concluded with a video featuring the diversity and beauty of some of our members’ home countries, as they little bit different. Organized during the busy holiday period, shared with us whytheir standards national mattertourism to industries. we wanted to create content that people could enjoy See our #TravelStandards in their free time. We targeted today’s savvy travellers, videos on Twitter. who care about sustainability, safety and accessibility. Hello world, I’m Cath ! LITHUANIA IRELAND POLAND REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA ROMANIA FRANCE NORTH MACEDONIA SWITZERLAND (ISO) COLOMBIA BRAZIL INDONESIA PERU ZIMBABWE BOLIVIA AUSTRALIA 4 | ISOfocus_136 ISOfocus_136 | 5 Keeping an eye on what matters for the economy by Andrea Barrios Villarreal