United States, Mexico and Canada Trade Agreement Supports IAS Accreditations

The International Accreditation Service (IAS) joins in celebrating the implementation of the United States, Mexico and Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) as it represents a better and more fair integration of these economies in benefit of everyone.  The agreement provides additional support for IAS accredited businesses already recognized to provide testing, inspection and certification in all three USMCA markets.

“As an accreditation body providing services in North America, IAS celebrates this important step in international trade as the USMCA ensures that conformity assessment in the region is alive and well, contributing to the economic balance and opening more market opportunities and technological exchange in the region,” said Raj Nathan, President of IAS.

IAS is a signatory to mutual recognition arrangements with the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and International Accreditation Forum (IAF), two global organizations that support international trade through the reduction of technical barriers between Canada, Mexico the U.S. and other countries.

IAS currently provides accreditations for businesses working in all three USMCA markets.  Among its programs, IAS provides accreditations for testing and calibration laboratories, certification bodies, product certification agencies, personnel certification bodies and several other types of businesses.

IAS accreditations demonstrate that companies are complying with recognized international standards and are competent to provide services included in their scope of accreditation. These accreditation programs provided by IAS are based on international standards, such as those published by the International Organization for Standardization, to which all three economies in the agreement are participants.

The USMCA represents the willingness of the three participant economies to continue supporting their individual economic growth. The new chapters covering digital trade anticorruption, and good regulatory practices bring out the need to recognize new areas of conformity assessment among its participants. IAS is looking forward to expanding its services in the region as a recognized Accreditation Body in areas already established by ILAC and IAF and to provide services in innovative areas that will contribute to the regional economic growth and social development.

For more information about IAS, visit www.iasonline.org or email iasinfo@iasonline.org.