IAPMO's Dain Hansen joins U.S. trade advisory committee

IAPMO said Dain Hansen, its executive vice president of Government Relations, has been appointed to the U.S. Government’s Industry Trade Advisory Committee by the U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Secretary of Commerce. The move gives the plumbing and mechanical standards group a direct role in advising federal policymakers on trade barriers, trade agreements and market access through July 2030.

Why it matters: - Hansen’s appointment gives IAPMO a formal seat in the federal trade-policy process. - The Industry Trade Advisory Committee system feeds industry expertise into U.S. decisions on trade barriers, trade agreements and conformity assessment programs. - The committee can help shape conditions that affect U.S. businesses, workers and access to overseas markets.

What happened: - IAPMO announced that Dain Hansen, executive vice president of Government Relations, was appointed to the U.S. Government’s Industry Trade Advisory Committee. - The U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce made the appointment. - The current ITAC charter runs from July 2026 through July 2030. - The Industry Trade Advisory Committees are jointly managed by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

The details: - Hansen has led IAPMO’s Government Relations work since joining the organization in 2010. - His portfolio has included engagement with Congress, the White House, federal and state agencies, foreign governments and international policymakers. - Hansen has focused on international trade and on expanding opportunities for U.S. plumbing manufacturers in overseas markets. - His work with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Administration has supported U.S.-developed and internationally recognized plumbing standards, conformity assessment systems and technical requirements in foreign markets. - IAPMO received the President’s “E” Award for Export Service in 2019 for efforts to increase U.S. plumbing exports, especially through work in Indonesia. - The U.S. Department of Commerce pointed to IAPMO’s support for internationally recognized plumbing standards and a testing and certification facility in Indonesia as key contributors to export growth. - IAPMO received the President’s “E Star” Award in 2024 for continued export expansion. - In 2025, IAPMO took part in an APEC summit in South Korea focused on plumbing standardization. - IAPMO worked with USTR and stakeholders from 11 APEC economies on greater alignment around standards and regulatory cooperation.

Between the lines: - The appointment extends IAPMO’s influence beyond technical standards work and into U.S. trade policy. - Hansen’s background suggests the committee will likely benefit from a standards-and-market-access perspective, not just a broad business view. - The honor also reflects IAPMO’s long-running export strategy, especially in markets where plumbing standards can shape adoption of U.S. products.

What's next: - Hansen will advise federal officials on trade barriers, trade agreement negotiations and implementation of existing agreements. - The ITAC role runs during a four-year term that ends in July 2030. - IAPMO will likely continue using trade, standards and regulatory cooperation channels to support U.S. plumbing manufacturers in international markets.

The bottom line: - IAPMO now has direct representation inside a key federal advisory structure that helps steer U.S. trade policy.