Designed to Regulate? A U.S. Manufacturer Seeks Entry into the EU Market.

Scott Gray, Center for Trade and Commercial Diplomacy, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California, Courtenay Carr, Center for Trade and Commercial Diplomacy, Monterey Institute of,International Studies, Monterey, California, Natalie Gomez, Center for Trade and Commercial Diplomacy, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California, Eric Crovetto, Center for Trade and Commercial Diplomacy, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California, and Andrew Procassini, Center for Trade and Commercial Diplomacy, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California

12/08/2008
(Original Publish Date: 7/10/1998)

Dormont Manufacturing Company, a U.S. exporter of gas hose connector, has spent the past 10 years desperately trying to regain access to the European Union market. Their main obstacle has been design standards. Because of the lack of harmonization in EU standards, Evan Segal, the President of Dormont, has had to make the decision to challenge the EU members standards committee, go through costly certifications in each member country, or alter their already successful product to meet these European standards. Are design standards a form of non-tariff trade barriers, or does the U.S. simply have to follow the standards?