A new editorial by Sonya Bird, vice president of international standards at UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE), underscores the importance of harmonized safety standards to achieve trust among collaborators and to drive innovation.

Bird shared that ULSE recently partnered with the National Commission of Standards, Metrology and Quality of Viet Nam (STAMEQ) to host a first-of-its-kind event in Hanoi focused on the role of safety standards in international trade and climate change adaptation. The event, “Standards Supporting International Trade and Climate Change Adaptation,” featured international speakers and experts, each sharing insights on how safety standards support economic growth, climate resilience, and global trade.

She added that, in addition to the conference, ULSE and STAMEQ also hosted two workshops on the implementation of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement in Vietnam, noting that a key aspect of ULSE’s leadership is its commitment to developing standards that align key global principles through adherence to WTO TBT.

“Standards serve as a powerful tool, providing a common framework that enhances reliability, safety, and market access while enabling economies to transition toward more sustainable practices. By aligning approaches, we can drive investment in sustainable technologies, improve resilience in our infrastructure and supply chains, and accelerate the deployment of climate-adaptive solutions,” she noted.

Access the editorial on ULSE’s Perspectives page.