diff --git a/attribute/type_string.go b/attribute/type_string.go
index 642e269516b..e584b24776b 100644
--- a/attribute/type_string.go
+++ b/attribute/type_string.go
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Code generated by "stringer -type=Type"; DO NOT EDIT.
 
-package attribute // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
+package attribute
 
 import "strconv"
 
diff --git a/bridge/opencensus/exporter.go b/bridge/opencensus/exporter.go
index 50f1242f266..1bc4d5fc115 100644
--- a/bridge/opencensus/exporter.go
+++ b/bridge/opencensus/exporter.go
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ func convertResource(res *ocresource.Resource) *resource.Resource {
 }
 
 // convertDescriptor converts an OpenCensus Descriptor to an OpenTelemetry Descriptor
-func convertDescriptor(ocDescriptor metricdata.Descriptor) (metric.Descriptor, error) {
+func convertDescriptor(ocDescriptor metricdata.Descriptor) (sdkapi.Descriptor, error) {
 	var (
 		nkind number.Kind
 		ikind sdkapi.InstrumentKind
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ func convertDescriptor(ocDescriptor metricdata.Descriptor) (metric.Descriptor, e
 		ikind = sdkapi.CounterObserverInstrumentKind
 	default:
 		// Includes TypeGaugeDistribution, TypeCumulativeDistribution, TypeSummary
-		return metric.Descriptor{}, fmt.Errorf("%w; descriptor type: %v", errConversion, ocDescriptor.Type)
+		return sdkapi.Descriptor{}, fmt.Errorf("%w; descriptor type: %v", errConversion, ocDescriptor.Type)
 	}
 	opts := []metric.InstrumentOption{
 		metric.WithDescription(ocDescriptor.Description),
@@ -181,5 +181,5 @@ func convertDescriptor(ocDescriptor metricdata.Descriptor) (metric.Descriptor, e
 		opts = append(opts, metric.WithUnit(unit.Milliseconds))
 	}
 	cfg := metric.NewInstrumentConfig(opts...)
-	return metric.NewDescriptor(ocDescriptor.Name, ikind, nkind, cfg.Description(), cfg.Unit()), nil
+	return sdkapi.NewDescriptor(ocDescriptor.Name, ikind, nkind, cfg.Description(), cfg.Unit()), nil
 }
diff --git a/bridge/opencensus/exporter_test.go b/bridge/opencensus/exporter_test.go
index ee5d7607930..3c0d89db8a5 100644
--- a/bridge/opencensus/exporter_test.go
+++ b/bridge/opencensus/exporter_test.go
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ func TestConvertDescriptor(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tc := range []struct {
 		desc        string
 		input       metricdata.Descriptor
-		expected    metric.Descriptor
+		expected    sdkapi.Descriptor
 		expectedErr error
 	}{
 		{
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/exporter.go b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/exporter.go
index 25930273aaf..cc3e0658842 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/exporter.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/exporter.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/metrictransform"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	metricsdk "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/resource"
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func (e *Exporter) Shutdown(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-func (e *Exporter) ExportKindFor(descriptor *metric.Descriptor, aggregatorKind aggregation.Kind) metricsdk.ExportKind {
+func (e *Exporter) ExportKindFor(descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor, aggregatorKind aggregation.Kind) metricsdk.ExportKind {
 	return e.exportKindSelector.ExportKindFor(descriptor, aggregatorKind)
 }
 
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/metrictransform/metric_test.go b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/metrictransform/metric_test.go
index 9b339edfe53..d697ae398fb 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/metrictransform/metric_test.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/metrictransform/metric_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/metrictest"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
@@ -101,18 +100,18 @@ func TestStringKeyValues(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestMinMaxSumCountValue(t *testing.T) {
-	mmscs := minmaxsumcount.New(2, &metric.Descriptor{})
+	mmscs := minmaxsumcount.New(2, &sdkapi.Descriptor{})
 	mmsc, ckpt := &mmscs[0], &mmscs[1]
 
-	assert.NoError(t, mmsc.Update(context.Background(), 1, &metric.Descriptor{}))
-	assert.NoError(t, mmsc.Update(context.Background(), 10, &metric.Descriptor{}))
+	assert.NoError(t, mmsc.Update(context.Background(), 1, &sdkapi.Descriptor{}))
+	assert.NoError(t, mmsc.Update(context.Background(), 10, &sdkapi.Descriptor{}))
 
 	// Prior to checkpointing ErrNoData should be returned.
 	_, _, _, _, err := minMaxSumCountValues(ckpt)
 	assert.EqualError(t, err, aggregation.ErrNoData.Error())
 
 	// Checkpoint to set non-zero values
-	require.NoError(t, mmsc.SynchronizedMove(ckpt, &metric.Descriptor{}))
+	require.NoError(t, mmsc.SynchronizedMove(ckpt, &sdkapi.Descriptor{}))
 	min, max, sum, count, err := minMaxSumCountValues(ckpt)
 	if assert.NoError(t, err) {
 		assert.Equal(t, min, number.NewInt64Number(1))
@@ -125,7 +124,7 @@ func TestMinMaxSumCountValue(t *testing.T) {
 func TestMinMaxSumCountDatapoints(t *testing.T) {
 	desc := metrictest.NewDescriptor("", sdkapi.HistogramInstrumentKind, number.Int64Kind)
 	labels := attribute.NewSet(attribute.String("one", "1"))
-	mmscs := minmaxsumcount.New(2, &metric.Descriptor{})
+	mmscs := minmaxsumcount.New(2, &sdkapi.Descriptor{})
 	mmsc, ckpt := &mmscs[0], &mmscs[1]
 
 	assert.NoError(t, mmsc.Update(context.Background(), 1, &desc))
@@ -172,7 +171,7 @@ func TestMinMaxSumCountPropagatesErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	// ErrNoData should be returned by both the Min and Max values of
 	// a MinMaxSumCount Aggregator. Use this fact to check the error is
 	// correctly returned.
-	mmsc := &minmaxsumcount.New(1, &metric.Descriptor{})[0]
+	mmsc := &minmaxsumcount.New(1, &sdkapi.Descriptor{})[0]
 	_, _, _, _, err := minMaxSumCountValues(mmsc)
 	assert.Error(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, aggregation.ErrNoData, err)
@@ -390,13 +389,13 @@ func (t *testAgg) Aggregation() aggregation.Aggregation {
 
 // None of these three are used:
 
-func (t *testAgg) Update(ctx context.Context, number number.Number, descriptor *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (t *testAgg) Update(ctx context.Context, number number.Number, descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	return nil
 }
-func (t *testAgg) SynchronizedMove(destination export.Aggregator, descriptor *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (t *testAgg) SynchronizedMove(destination export.Aggregator, descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	return nil
 }
-func (t *testAgg) Merge(aggregator export.Aggregator, descriptor *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (t *testAgg) Merge(aggregator export.Aggregator, descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/prometheus.go b/exporters/prometheus/prometheus.go
index 572feff5701..f191aa43d2b 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/prometheus.go
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/prometheus.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ func (e *Exporter) Controller() *controller.Controller {
 }
 
 // ExportKindFor implements ExportKindSelector.
-func (e *Exporter) ExportKindFor(desc *metric.Descriptor, kind aggregation.Kind) export.ExportKind {
+func (e *Exporter) ExportKindFor(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor, kind aggregation.Kind) export.ExportKind {
 	return export.CumulativeExportKindSelector().ExportKindFor(desc, kind)
 }
 
diff --git a/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/metric.go b/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/metric.go
index 7ad8495b0e0..9fd6b28d154 100644
--- a/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/metric.go
+++ b/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/metric.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	exportmetric "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ type line struct {
 	Timestamp *time.Time `json:"Timestamp,omitempty"`
 }
 
-func (e *metricExporter) ExportKindFor(desc *metric.Descriptor, kind aggregation.Kind) exportmetric.ExportKind {
+func (e *metricExporter) ExportKindFor(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor, kind aggregation.Kind) exportmetric.ExportKind {
 	return exportmetric.StatelessExportKindSelector().ExportKindFor(desc, kind)
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/metric/global/meter.go b/internal/metric/global/meter.go
index f8f0992b7ef..7409f5f97aa 100644
--- a/internal/metric/global/meter.go
+++ b/internal/metric/global/meter.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/internal/metric/registry"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 )
 
 // This file contains the forwarding implementation of MeterProvider used as
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ type meterEntry struct {
 }
 
 type instrument struct {
-	descriptor metric.Descriptor
+	descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor
 }
 
 type syncImpl struct {
@@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ var _ metric.InstrumentImpl = &syncImpl{}
 var _ metric.BoundSyncImpl = &syncHandle{}
 var _ metric.AsyncImpl = &asyncImpl{}
 
-func (inst *instrument) Descriptor() metric.Descriptor {
+func (inst *instrument) Descriptor() sdkapi.Descriptor {
 	return inst.descriptor
 }
 
@@ -197,7 +198,7 @@ func (m *meterImpl) setDelegate(key meterKey, provider metric.MeterProvider) {
 	m.asyncInsts = nil
 }
 
-func (m *meterImpl) NewSyncInstrument(desc metric.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
+func (m *meterImpl) NewSyncInstrument(desc sdkapi.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
 	m.lock.Lock()
 	defer m.lock.Unlock()
 
@@ -265,7 +266,7 @@ func (bound *syncHandle) Unbind() {
 // Async delegation
 
 func (m *meterImpl) NewAsyncInstrument(
-	desc metric.Descriptor,
+	desc sdkapi.Descriptor,
 	runner metric.AsyncRunner,
 ) (metric.AsyncImpl, error) {
 
diff --git a/internal/metric/global/meter_test.go b/internal/metric/global/meter_test.go
index 7f4cd0eb696..204dd3c51f2 100644
--- a/internal/metric/global/meter_test.go
+++ b/internal/metric/global/meter_test.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	metricglobal "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/global"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/metrictest"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 )
 
 var Must = metric.Must
@@ -239,7 +240,7 @@ func (m *meterProviderWithConstructorError) Meter(iName string, opts ...metric.M
 	return metric.WrapMeterImpl(&meterWithConstructorError{m.MeterProvider.Meter(iName, opts...).MeterImpl()})
 }
 
-func (m *meterWithConstructorError) NewSyncInstrument(_ metric.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
+func (m *meterWithConstructorError) NewSyncInstrument(_ sdkapi.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
 	return metric.NoopSync{}, errors.New("constructor error")
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/metric/registry/registry.go b/internal/metric/registry/registry.go
index 5eafa540d31..b6eac14ac62 100644
--- a/internal/metric/registry/registry.go
+++ b/internal/metric/registry/registry.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 )
 
 // UniqueInstrumentMeterImpl implements the metric.MeterImpl interface, adding
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ func (u *UniqueInstrumentMeterImpl) RecordBatch(ctx context.Context, labels []at
 
 // NewMetricKindMismatchError formats an error that describes a
 // mismatched metric instrument definition.
-func NewMetricKindMismatchError(desc metric.Descriptor) error {
+func NewMetricKindMismatchError(desc sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	return fmt.Errorf("metric %s registered as %s %s: %w",
 		desc.Name(),
 		desc.NumberKind(),
@@ -68,9 +69,9 @@ func NewMetricKindMismatchError(desc metric.Descriptor) error {
 		ErrMetricKindMismatch)
 }
 
-// Compatible determines whether two metric.Descriptors are considered
+// Compatible determines whether two sdkapi.Descriptors are considered
 // the same for the purpose of uniqueness checking.
-func Compatible(candidate, existing metric.Descriptor) bool {
+func Compatible(candidate, existing sdkapi.Descriptor) bool {
 	return candidate.InstrumentKind() == existing.InstrumentKind() &&
 		candidate.NumberKind() == existing.NumberKind()
 }
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ func Compatible(candidate, existing metric.Descriptor) bool {
 // `descriptor` argument.  If there is an existing compatible
 // registration, this returns the already-registered instrument.  If
 // there is no conflict and no prior registration, returns (nil, nil).
-func (u *UniqueInstrumentMeterImpl) checkUniqueness(descriptor metric.Descriptor) (metric.InstrumentImpl, error) {
+func (u *UniqueInstrumentMeterImpl) checkUniqueness(descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor) (metric.InstrumentImpl, error) {
 	impl, ok := u.state[descriptor.Name()]
 	if !ok {
 		return nil, nil
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ func (u *UniqueInstrumentMeterImpl) checkUniqueness(descriptor metric.Descriptor
 }
 
 // NewSyncInstrument implements metric.MeterImpl.
-func (u *UniqueInstrumentMeterImpl) NewSyncInstrument(descriptor metric.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
+func (u *UniqueInstrumentMeterImpl) NewSyncInstrument(descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
 	u.lock.Lock()
 	defer u.lock.Unlock()
 
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ func (u *UniqueInstrumentMeterImpl) NewSyncInstrument(descriptor metric.Descript
 
 // NewAsyncInstrument implements metric.MeterImpl.
 func (u *UniqueInstrumentMeterImpl) NewAsyncInstrument(
-	descriptor metric.Descriptor,
+	descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor,
 	runner metric.AsyncRunner,
 ) (metric.AsyncImpl, error) {
 	u.lock.Lock()
diff --git a/metric/metric.go b/metric/metric.go
index 6314e9ca6d1..a045c8d45b9 100644
--- a/metric/metric.go
+++ b/metric/metric.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 )
 
 // MeterProvider supports named Meter instances.
@@ -285,7 +284,7 @@ func (m Meter) newAsync(
 		return NoopAsync{}, nil
 	}
 	cfg := NewInstrumentConfig(opts...)
-	desc := NewDescriptor(name, mkind, nkind, cfg.description, cfg.unit)
+	desc := sdkapi.NewDescriptor(name, mkind, nkind, cfg.description, cfg.unit)
 	return m.impl.NewAsyncInstrument(desc, runner)
 }
 
@@ -303,7 +302,7 @@ func (m Meter) newSync(
 		return NoopSync{}, nil
 	}
 	cfg := NewInstrumentConfig(opts...)
-	desc := NewDescriptor(name, metricKind, numberKind, cfg.description, cfg.unit)
+	desc := sdkapi.NewDescriptor(name, metricKind, numberKind, cfg.description, cfg.unit)
 	return m.impl.NewSyncInstrument(desc)
 }
 
@@ -513,53 +512,3 @@ func (bm BatchObserverMust) NewFloat64UpDownCounterObserver(name string, oos ...
 		return inst
 	}
 }
-
-// Descriptor contains all the settings that describe an instrument,
-// including its name, metric kind, number kind, and the configurable
-// options.
-type Descriptor struct {
-	name           string
-	instrumentKind sdkapi.InstrumentKind
-	numberKind     number.Kind
-	description    string
-	unit           unit.Unit
-}
-
-// NewDescriptor returns a Descriptor with the given contents.
-func NewDescriptor(name string, ikind sdkapi.InstrumentKind, nkind number.Kind, description string, unit unit.Unit) Descriptor {
-	return Descriptor{
-		name:           name,
-		instrumentKind: ikind,
-		numberKind:     nkind,
-		description:    description,
-		unit:           unit,
-	}
-}
-
-// Name returns the metric instrument's name.
-func (d Descriptor) Name() string {
-	return d.name
-}
-
-// InstrumentKind returns the specific kind of instrument.
-func (d Descriptor) InstrumentKind() sdkapi.InstrumentKind {
-	return d.instrumentKind
-}
-
-// Description provides a human-readable description of the metric
-// instrument.
-func (d Descriptor) Description() string {
-	return d.description
-}
-
-// Unit describes the units of the metric instrument.  Unitless
-// metrics return the empty string.
-func (d Descriptor) Unit() unit.Unit {
-	return d.unit
-}
-
-// NumberKind returns whether this instrument is declared over int64,
-// float64, or uint64 values.
-func (d Descriptor) NumberKind() number.Kind {
-	return d.numberKind
-}
diff --git a/metric/metric_sdkapi.go b/metric/metric_sdkapi.go
index c7748d1bdc7..d39a08dbcb8 100644
--- a/metric/metric_sdkapi.go
+++ b/metric/metric_sdkapi.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 )
 
 // MeterImpl is the interface an SDK must implement to supply a Meter
@@ -30,13 +31,13 @@ type MeterImpl interface {
 	// NewSyncInstrument returns a newly constructed
 	// synchronous instrument implementation or an error, should
 	// one occur.
-	NewSyncInstrument(descriptor Descriptor) (SyncImpl, error)
+	NewSyncInstrument(descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor) (SyncImpl, error)
 
 	// NewAsyncInstrument returns a newly constructed
 	// asynchronous instrument implementation or an error, should
 	// one occur.
 	NewAsyncInstrument(
-		descriptor Descriptor,
+		descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor,
 		runner AsyncRunner,
 	) (AsyncImpl, error)
 }
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ type InstrumentImpl interface {
 	Implementation() interface{}
 
 	// Descriptor returns a copy of the instrument's Descriptor.
-	Descriptor() Descriptor
+	Descriptor() sdkapi.Descriptor
 }
 
 // SyncImpl is the implementation-level interface to a generic
diff --git a/metric/metric_test.go b/metric/metric_test.go
index 29e433ad898..3bf9336679d 100644
--- a/metric/metric_test.go
+++ b/metric/metric_test.go
@@ -473,11 +473,11 @@ var _ metric.MeterImpl = testWrappedMeter{}
 func (testWrappedMeter) RecordBatch(context.Context, []attribute.KeyValue, ...metric.Measurement) {
 }
 
-func (testWrappedMeter) NewSyncInstrument(_ metric.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
+func (testWrappedMeter) NewSyncInstrument(_ sdkapi.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
 	return nil, nil
 }
 
-func (testWrappedMeter) NewAsyncInstrument(_ metric.Descriptor, _ metric.AsyncRunner) (metric.AsyncImpl, error) {
+func (testWrappedMeter) NewAsyncInstrument(_ sdkapi.Descriptor, _ metric.AsyncRunner) (metric.AsyncImpl, error) {
 	return nil, errors.New("Test wrap error")
 }
 
diff --git a/metric/metrictest/meter.go b/metric/metrictest/meter.go
index 957f894f142..5bde993fcf3 100644
--- a/metric/metrictest/meter.go
+++ b/metric/metrictest/meter.go
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ type (
 
 	Instrument struct {
 		meter      *MeterImpl
-		descriptor metric.Descriptor
+		descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor
 	}
 
 	Async struct {
@@ -94,12 +94,12 @@ var (
 
 // NewDescriptor is a test helper for constructing test metric
 // descriptors using standard options.
-func NewDescriptor(name string, ikind sdkapi.InstrumentKind, nkind number.Kind, opts ...metric.InstrumentOption) metric.Descriptor {
+func NewDescriptor(name string, ikind sdkapi.InstrumentKind, nkind number.Kind, opts ...metric.InstrumentOption) sdkapi.Descriptor {
 	cfg := metric.NewInstrumentConfig(opts...)
-	return metric.NewDescriptor(name, ikind, nkind, cfg.Description(), cfg.Unit())
+	return sdkapi.NewDescriptor(name, ikind, nkind, cfg.Description(), cfg.Unit())
 }
 
-func (i Instrument) Descriptor() metric.Descriptor {
+func (i Instrument) Descriptor() sdkapi.Descriptor {
 	return i.descriptor
 }
 
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ func (p *MeterProvider) Meter(name string, opts ...metric.MeterOption) metric.Me
 }
 
 // NewSyncInstrument implements metric.MeterImpl.
-func (m *MeterImpl) NewSyncInstrument(descriptor metric.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
+func (m *MeterImpl) NewSyncInstrument(descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
 	return &Sync{
 		Instrument{
 			descriptor: descriptor,
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func (m *MeterImpl) NewSyncInstrument(descriptor metric.Descriptor) (metric.Sync
 }
 
 // NewAsyncInstrument implements metric.MeterImpl.
-func (m *MeterImpl) NewAsyncInstrument(descriptor metric.Descriptor, runner metric.AsyncRunner) (metric.AsyncImpl, error) {
+func (m *MeterImpl) NewAsyncInstrument(descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor, runner metric.AsyncRunner) (metric.AsyncImpl, error) {
 	a := &Async{
 		Instrument: Instrument{
 			descriptor: descriptor,
diff --git a/metric/noop.go b/metric/noop.go
index 5b51af759f3..cbcc96ff5c1 100644
--- a/metric/noop.go
+++ b/metric/noop.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 )
 
 // NewNoopMeterProvider returns an implementation of MeterProvider that
@@ -48,8 +49,8 @@ func (noopInstrument) Implementation() interface{} {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (noopInstrument) Descriptor() Descriptor {
-	return Descriptor{}
+func (noopInstrument) Descriptor() sdkapi.Descriptor {
+	return sdkapi.Descriptor{}
 }
 
 func (noopBoundInstrument) RecordOne(context.Context, number.Number) {
diff --git a/metric/sdkapi/descriptor.go b/metric/sdkapi/descriptor.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..14eb0532e45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metric/sdkapi/descriptor.go
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package sdkapi // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
+
+import (
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
+)
+
+// Descriptor contains all the settings that describe an instrument,
+// including its name, metric kind, number kind, and the configurable
+// options.
+type Descriptor struct {
+	name           string
+	instrumentKind InstrumentKind
+	numberKind     number.Kind
+	description    string
+	unit           unit.Unit
+}
+
+// NewDescriptor returns a Descriptor with the given contents.
+func NewDescriptor(name string, ikind InstrumentKind, nkind number.Kind, description string, unit unit.Unit) Descriptor {
+	return Descriptor{
+		name:           name,
+		instrumentKind: ikind,
+		numberKind:     nkind,
+		description:    description,
+		unit:           unit,
+	}
+}
+
+// Name returns the metric instrument's name.
+func (d Descriptor) Name() string {
+	return d.name
+}
+
+// InstrumentKind returns the specific kind of instrument.
+func (d Descriptor) InstrumentKind() InstrumentKind {
+	return d.instrumentKind
+}
+
+// Description provides a human-readable description of the metric
+// instrument.
+func (d Descriptor) Description() string {
+	return d.description
+}
+
+// Unit describes the units of the metric instrument.  Unitless
+// metrics return the empty string.
+func (d Descriptor) Unit() unit.Unit {
+	return d.unit
+}
+
+// NumberKind returns whether this instrument is declared over int64,
+// float64, or uint64 values.
+func (d Descriptor) NumberKind() number.Kind {
+	return d.numberKind
+}
diff --git a/metric/sdkapi/descriptor_test.go b/metric/sdkapi/descriptor_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6b6927075f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metric/sdkapi/descriptor_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package sdkapi
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
+)
+
+func TestDescriptorGetters(t *testing.T) {
+	d := NewDescriptor("name", HistogramInstrumentKind, number.Int64Kind, "my description", "my unit")
+	require.Equal(t, "name", d.Name())
+	require.Equal(t, HistogramInstrumentKind, d.InstrumentKind())
+	require.Equal(t, number.Int64Kind, d.NumberKind())
+	require.Equal(t, "my description", d.Description())
+	require.Equal(t, unit.Unit("my unit"), d.Unit())
+}
diff --git a/sdk/export/metric/metric.go b/sdk/export/metric/metric.go
index 46c8d99a565..a9a77415f5b 100644
--- a/sdk/export/metric/metric.go
+++ b/sdk/export/metric/metric.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
@@ -97,7 +96,7 @@ type AggregatorSelector interface {
 	// Note: This is context-free because the aggregator should
 	// not relate to the incoming context.  This call should not
 	// block.
-	AggregatorFor(descriptor *metric.Descriptor, aggregator ...*Aggregator)
+	AggregatorFor(descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor, aggregator ...*Aggregator)
 }
 
 // Checkpointer is the interface used by a Controller to coordinate
@@ -161,7 +160,7 @@ type Aggregator interface {
 	//
 	// The Context argument comes from user-level code and could be
 	// inspected for a `correlation.Map` or `trace.SpanContext`.
-	Update(ctx context.Context, number number.Number, descriptor *metric.Descriptor) error
+	Update(ctx context.Context, number number.Number, descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) error
 
 	// SynchronizedMove is called during collection to finish one
 	// period of aggregation by atomically saving the
@@ -185,7 +184,7 @@ type Aggregator interface {
 	//
 	// When called with a nil `destination`, this Aggregator is reset
 	// and the current value is discarded.
-	SynchronizedMove(destination Aggregator, descriptor *metric.Descriptor) error
+	SynchronizedMove(destination Aggregator, descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) error
 
 	// Merge combines the checkpointed state from the argument
 	// Aggregator into this Aggregator.  Merge is not synchronized
@@ -193,7 +192,7 @@ type Aggregator interface {
 	//
 	// The owner of an Aggregator being merged is responsible for
 	// synchronization of both Aggregator states.
-	Merge(aggregator Aggregator, descriptor *metric.Descriptor) error
+	Merge(aggregator Aggregator, descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) error
 }
 
 // Subtractor is an optional interface implemented by some
@@ -203,7 +202,7 @@ type Aggregator interface {
 type Subtractor interface {
 	// Subtract subtracts the `operand` from this Aggregator and
 	// outputs the value in `result`.
-	Subtract(operand, result Aggregator, descriptor *metric.Descriptor) error
+	Subtract(operand, result Aggregator, descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) error
 }
 
 // Exporter handles presentation of the checkpoint of aggregate
@@ -233,7 +232,7 @@ type ExportKindSelector interface {
 	// ExportKindFor should return the correct ExportKind that
 	// should be used when exporting data for the given metric
 	// instrument and Aggregator kind.
-	ExportKindFor(descriptor *metric.Descriptor, aggregatorKind aggregation.Kind) ExportKind
+	ExportKindFor(descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor, aggregatorKind aggregation.Kind) ExportKind
 }
 
 // InstrumentationLibraryReader is an interface for exporters to iterate
@@ -283,7 +282,7 @@ type Reader interface {
 // are shared by the Accumulator->Processor and Processor->Exporter
 // steps.
 type Metadata struct {
-	descriptor *metric.Descriptor
+	descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor
 	labels     *attribute.Set
 }
 
@@ -305,7 +304,7 @@ type Record struct {
 }
 
 // Descriptor describes the metric instrument being exported.
-func (m Metadata) Descriptor() *metric.Descriptor {
+func (m Metadata) Descriptor() *sdkapi.Descriptor {
 	return m.descriptor
 }
 
@@ -319,7 +318,7 @@ func (m Metadata) Labels() *attribute.Set {
 // Accumulations to send to Processors. The Descriptor, Labels,
 // and Aggregator represent aggregate metric events received over a single
 // collection period.
-func NewAccumulation(descriptor *metric.Descriptor, labels *attribute.Set, aggregator Aggregator) Accumulation {
+func NewAccumulation(descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor, labels *attribute.Set, aggregator Aggregator) Accumulation {
 	return Accumulation{
 		Metadata: Metadata{
 			descriptor: descriptor,
@@ -338,7 +337,7 @@ func (r Accumulation) Aggregator() Aggregator {
 // NewRecord allows Processor implementations to construct export
 // records.  The Descriptor, Labels, and Aggregator represent
 // aggregate metric events received over a single collection period.
-func NewRecord(descriptor *metric.Descriptor, labels *attribute.Set, aggregation aggregation.Aggregation, start, end time.Time) Record {
+func NewRecord(descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor, labels *attribute.Set, aggregation aggregation.Aggregation, start, end time.Time) Record {
 	return Record{
 		Metadata: Metadata{
 			descriptor: descriptor,
@@ -441,12 +440,12 @@ func StatelessExportKindSelector() ExportKindSelector {
 }
 
 // ExportKindFor implements ExportKindSelector.
-func (c constantExportKindSelector) ExportKindFor(_ *metric.Descriptor, _ aggregation.Kind) ExportKind {
+func (c constantExportKindSelector) ExportKindFor(_ *sdkapi.Descriptor, _ aggregation.Kind) ExportKind {
 	return ExportKind(c)
 }
 
 // ExportKindFor implements ExportKindSelector.
-func (s statelessExportKindSelector) ExportKindFor(desc *metric.Descriptor, kind aggregation.Kind) ExportKind {
+func (s statelessExportKindSelector) ExportKindFor(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor, kind aggregation.Kind) ExportKind {
 	if kind == aggregation.SumKind && desc.InstrumentKind().PrecomputedSum() {
 		return CumulativeExportKind
 	}
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregator.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregator.go
index 478d6fc2130..13a315e2d4a 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregator.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregator.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"math"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@ func NewInconsistentAggregatorError(a1, a2 export.Aggregator) error {
 // This rejects NaN values.  This rejects negative values when the
 // metric instrument does not support negative values, including
 // monotonic counter metrics and absolute Histogram metrics.
-func RangeTest(num number.Number, descriptor *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func RangeTest(num number.Number, descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	numberKind := descriptor.NumberKind()
 
 	if numberKind == number.Float64Kind && math.IsNaN(num.AsFloat64()) {
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregator_test.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregator_test.go
index 24e91a7d7e6..fd85297ed1d 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregator_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregator_test.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/metrictest"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ func TestInconsistentAggregatorErr(t *testing.T) {
 	require.True(t, errors.Is(err, aggregation.ErrInconsistentType))
 }
 
-func testRangeNaN(t *testing.T, desc *metric.Descriptor) {
+func testRangeNaN(t *testing.T, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) {
 	// If the descriptor uses int64 numbers, this won't register as NaN
 	nan := number.NewFloat64Number(math.NaN())
 	err := aggregator.RangeTest(nan, desc)
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ func testRangeNaN(t *testing.T, desc *metric.Descriptor) {
 	}
 }
 
-func testRangeNegative(t *testing.T, desc *metric.Descriptor) {
+func testRangeNegative(t *testing.T, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) {
 	var neg, pos number.Number
 
 	if desc.NumberKind() == number.Float64Kind {
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregatortest/test.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregatortest/test.go
index a6b5a964977..2fbfca5eed9 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregatortest/test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/aggregatortest/test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	ottest "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/internal/internaltest"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/metrictest"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ func newProfiles() []Profile {
 	}
 }
 
-func NewAggregatorTest(mkind sdkapi.InstrumentKind, nkind number.Kind) *metric.Descriptor {
+func NewAggregatorTest(mkind sdkapi.InstrumentKind, nkind number.Kind) *sdkapi.Descriptor {
 	desc := metrictest.NewDescriptor("test.name", mkind, nkind)
 	return &desc
 }
@@ -151,7 +150,7 @@ func (n *Numbers) Points() []number.Number {
 }
 
 // CheckedUpdate performs the same range test the SDK does on behalf of the aggregator.
-func CheckedUpdate(t *testing.T, agg export.Aggregator, number number.Number, descriptor *metric.Descriptor) {
+func CheckedUpdate(t *testing.T, agg export.Aggregator, number number.Number, descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	// Note: Aggregator tests are written assuming that the SDK
@@ -167,7 +166,7 @@ func CheckedUpdate(t *testing.T, agg export.Aggregator, number number.Number, de
 	}
 }
 
-func CheckedMerge(t *testing.T, aggInto, aggFrom export.Aggregator, descriptor *metric.Descriptor) {
+func CheckedMerge(t *testing.T, aggInto, aggFrom export.Aggregator, descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) {
 	if err := aggInto.Merge(aggFrom, descriptor); err != nil {
 		t.Error("Unexpected Merge failure", err)
 	}
@@ -181,19 +180,19 @@ func (NoopAggregator) Aggregation() aggregation.Aggregation {
 	return NoopAggregation{}
 }
 
-func (NoopAggregator) Update(context.Context, number.Number, *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (NoopAggregator) Update(context.Context, number.Number, *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (NoopAggregator) SynchronizedMove(export.Aggregator, *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (NoopAggregator) SynchronizedMove(export.Aggregator, *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (NoopAggregator) Merge(export.Aggregator, *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (NoopAggregator) Merge(export.Aggregator, *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func SynchronizedMoveResetTest(t *testing.T, mkind sdkapi.InstrumentKind, nf func(*metric.Descriptor) export.Aggregator) {
+func SynchronizedMoveResetTest(t *testing.T, mkind sdkapi.InstrumentKind, nf func(*sdkapi.Descriptor) export.Aggregator) {
 	t.Run("reset on nil", func(t *testing.T) {
 		// Ensures that SynchronizedMove(nil, descriptor) discards and
 		// resets the aggregator.
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/exact/exact.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/exact/exact.go
index c2c7adaf256..336cd878fd0 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/exact/exact.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/exact/exact.go
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregator"
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func (c *Aggregator) Points() ([]aggregation.Point, error) {
 
 // SynchronizedMove saves the current state to oa and resets the current state to
 // the empty set, taking a lock to prevent concurrent Update() calls.
-func (c *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	o, _ := oa.(*Aggregator)
 
 	if oa != nil && o == nil {
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func (c *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, desc *metric.Descrip
 // Update adds the recorded measurement to the current data set.
 // Update takes a lock to prevent concurrent Update() and SynchronizedMove()
 // calls.
-func (c *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	now := time.Now()
 	c.lock.Lock()
 	defer c.lock.Unlock()
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ func (c *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *metri
 }
 
 // Merge combines two data sets into one.
-func (c *Aggregator) Merge(oa export.Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) Merge(oa export.Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	o, _ := oa.(*Aggregator)
 	if o == nil {
 		return aggregator.NewInconsistentAggregatorError(c, oa)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/exact/exact_test.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/exact/exact_test.go
index adadd38a0b0..0ef1fdf9379 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/exact/exact_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/exact/exact_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ func requireNotAfter(t *testing.T, t1, t2 time.Time) {
 	require.False(t, t1.After(t2), "expected %v ≤ %v", t1, t2)
 }
 
-func checkZero(t *testing.T, agg *Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) {
+func checkZero(t *testing.T, agg *Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) {
 	count, err := agg.Count()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, uint64(0), count)
@@ -312,7 +311,7 @@ func TestSynchronizedMoveReset(t *testing.T) {
 	aggregatortest.SynchronizedMoveResetTest(
 		t,
 		sdkapi.HistogramInstrumentKind,
-		func(desc *metric.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
+		func(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
 			return &New(1)[0]
 		},
 	)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/histogram/histogram.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/histogram/histogram.go
index ea3ecdbb5b2..899c71cacd1 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/histogram/histogram.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/histogram/histogram.go
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"sync"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregator"
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ var _ aggregation.Histogram = &Aggregator{}
 // Note that this aggregator maintains each value using independent
 // atomic operations, which introduces the possibility that
 // checkpoints are inconsistent.
-func New(cnt int, desc *metric.Descriptor, opts ...Option) []Aggregator {
+func New(cnt int, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor, opts ...Option) []Aggregator {
 	var cfg config
 
 	if desc.NumberKind() == number.Int64Kind {
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ func (c *Aggregator) Histogram() (aggregation.Buckets, error) {
 // the empty set.  Since no locks are taken, there is a chance that
 // the independent Sum, Count and Bucket Count are not consistent with each
 // other.
-func (c *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	o, _ := oa.(*Aggregator)
 
 	if oa != nil && o == nil {
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ func (c *Aggregator) clearState() {
 }
 
 // Update adds the recorded measurement to the current data set.
-func (c *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	kind := desc.NumberKind()
 	asFloat := number.CoerceToFloat64(kind)
 
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ func (c *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *metri
 }
 
 // Merge combines two histograms that have the same buckets into a single one.
-func (c *Aggregator) Merge(oa export.Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) Merge(oa export.Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	o, _ := oa.(*Aggregator)
 	if o == nil {
 		return aggregator.NewInconsistentAggregatorError(c, oa)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/histogram/histogram_test.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/histogram/histogram_test.go
index 0b56cb5dd0c..a4c5c6da687 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/histogram/histogram_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/histogram/histogram_test.go
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
@@ -64,17 +63,17 @@ var (
 	testBoundaries = []float64{500, 250, 750}
 )
 
-func new2(desc *metric.Descriptor, options ...histogram.Option) (_, _ *histogram.Aggregator) {
+func new2(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor, options ...histogram.Option) (_, _ *histogram.Aggregator) {
 	alloc := histogram.New(2, desc, options...)
 	return &alloc[0], &alloc[1]
 }
 
-func new4(desc *metric.Descriptor, options ...histogram.Option) (_, _, _, _ *histogram.Aggregator) {
+func new4(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor, options ...histogram.Option) (_, _, _, _ *histogram.Aggregator) {
 	alloc := histogram.New(4, desc, options...)
 	return &alloc[0], &alloc[1], &alloc[2], &alloc[3]
 }
 
-func checkZero(t *testing.T, agg *histogram.Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) {
+func checkZero(t *testing.T, agg *histogram.Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) {
 	asum, err := agg.Sum()
 	require.Equal(t, number.Number(0), asum, "Empty checkpoint sum = 0")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -241,7 +240,7 @@ func TestSynchronizedMoveReset(t *testing.T) {
 	aggregatortest.SynchronizedMoveResetTest(
 		t,
 		sdkapi.HistogramInstrumentKind,
-		func(desc *metric.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
+		func(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
 			return &histogram.New(1, desc, histogram.WithExplicitBoundaries(testBoundaries))[0]
 		},
 	)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/lastvalue/lastvalue.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/lastvalue/lastvalue.go
index 3cc5f7055cf..71b117890cb 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/lastvalue/lastvalue.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/lastvalue/lastvalue.go
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ import (
 	"time"
 	"unsafe"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregator"
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func (g *Aggregator) LastValue() (number.Number, time.Time, error) {
 }
 
 // SynchronizedMove atomically saves the current value.
-func (g *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, _ *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (g *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, _ *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	if oa == nil {
 		atomic.StorePointer(&g.value, unsafe.Pointer(unsetLastValue))
 		return nil
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func (g *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, _ *metric.Descriptor
 }
 
 // Update atomically sets the current "last" value.
-func (g *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (g *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	ngd := &lastValueData{
 		value:     number,
 		timestamp: time.Now(),
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func (g *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *metri
 
 // Merge combines state from two aggregators.  The most-recently set
 // value is chosen.
-func (g *Aggregator) Merge(oa export.Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (g *Aggregator) Merge(oa export.Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	o, _ := oa.(*Aggregator)
 	if o == nil {
 		return aggregator.NewInconsistentAggregatorError(g, oa)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/lastvalue/lastvalue_test.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/lastvalue/lastvalue_test.go
index 01166b5b609..8f1a771009c 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/lastvalue/lastvalue_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/lastvalue/lastvalue_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	ottest "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/internal/internaltest"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
@@ -140,7 +139,7 @@ func TestSynchronizedMoveReset(t *testing.T) {
 	aggregatortest.SynchronizedMoveResetTest(
 		t,
 		sdkapi.GaugeObserverInstrumentKind,
-		func(desc *metric.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
+		func(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
 			return &New(1)[0]
 		},
 	)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/minmaxsumcount/mmsc.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/minmaxsumcount/mmsc.go
index e21fd75ab73..663cb4e0d3d 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/minmaxsumcount/mmsc.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/minmaxsumcount/mmsc.go
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"sync"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregator"
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ var _ aggregation.MinMaxSumCount = &Aggregator{}
 // count.
 //
 // This type uses a mutex for Update() and SynchronizedMove() concurrency.
-func New(cnt int, desc *metric.Descriptor) []Aggregator {
+func New(cnt int, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) []Aggregator {
 	kind := desc.NumberKind()
 	aggs := make([]Aggregator, cnt)
 	for i := range aggs {
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func (c *Aggregator) Max() (number.Number, error) {
 
 // SynchronizedMove saves the current state into oa and resets the current state to
 // the empty set.
-func (c *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	o, _ := oa.(*Aggregator)
 
 	if oa != nil && o == nil {
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func emptyState(kind number.Kind) state {
 }
 
 // Update adds the recorded measurement to the current data set.
-func (c *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	kind := desc.NumberKind()
 
 	c.lock.Lock()
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ func (c *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, number number.Number, desc *metri
 }
 
 // Merge combines two data sets into one.
-func (c *Aggregator) Merge(oa export.Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) Merge(oa export.Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	o, _ := oa.(*Aggregator)
 	if o == nil {
 		return aggregator.NewInconsistentAggregatorError(c, oa)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/minmaxsumcount/mmsc_test.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/minmaxsumcount/mmsc_test.go
index 84535ceda13..b0dc7f8fb19 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/minmaxsumcount/mmsc_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/minmaxsumcount/mmsc_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
@@ -79,17 +78,17 @@ func TestMinMaxSumCountPositiveAndNegative(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
-func new2(desc *metric.Descriptor) (_, _ *Aggregator) {
+func new2(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) (_, _ *Aggregator) {
 	alloc := New(2, desc)
 	return &alloc[0], &alloc[1]
 }
 
-func new4(desc *metric.Descriptor) (_, _, _, _ *Aggregator) {
+func new4(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) (_, _, _, _ *Aggregator) {
 	alloc := New(4, desc)
 	return &alloc[0], &alloc[1], &alloc[2], &alloc[3]
 }
 
-func checkZero(t *testing.T, agg *Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) {
+func checkZero(t *testing.T, agg *Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) {
 	kind := desc.NumberKind()
 
 	sum, err := agg.Sum()
@@ -242,7 +241,7 @@ func TestSynchronizedMoveReset(t *testing.T) {
 	aggregatortest.SynchronizedMoveResetTest(
 		t,
 		sdkapi.HistogramInstrumentKind,
-		func(desc *metric.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
+		func(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
 			return &New(1, desc)[0]
 		},
 	)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/sum/sum.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/sum/sum.go
index fc96ddb4cba..26390a61015 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/sum/sum.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/sum/sum.go
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ package sum // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregator/sum"
 import (
 	"context"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregator"
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func (c *Aggregator) Sum() (number.Number, error) {
 
 // SynchronizedMove atomically saves the current value into oa and resets the
 // current sum to zero.
-func (c *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, _ *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, _ *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	if oa == nil {
 		c.value.SetRawAtomic(0)
 		return nil
@@ -74,13 +74,13 @@ func (c *Aggregator) SynchronizedMove(oa export.Aggregator, _ *metric.Descriptor
 }
 
 // Update atomically adds to the current value.
-func (c *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, num number.Number, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) Update(_ context.Context, num number.Number, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	c.value.AddNumberAtomic(desc.NumberKind(), num)
 	return nil
 }
 
 // Merge combines two counters by adding their sums.
-func (c *Aggregator) Merge(oa export.Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) Merge(oa export.Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	o, _ := oa.(*Aggregator)
 	if o == nil {
 		return aggregator.NewInconsistentAggregatorError(c, oa)
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func (c *Aggregator) Merge(oa export.Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) error
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *Aggregator) Subtract(opAgg, resAgg export.Aggregator, descriptor *metric.Descriptor) error {
+func (c *Aggregator) Subtract(opAgg, resAgg export.Aggregator, descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) error {
 	op, _ := opAgg.(*Aggregator)
 	if op == nil {
 		return aggregator.NewInconsistentAggregatorError(c, opAgg)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/aggregator/sum/sum_test.go b/sdk/metric/aggregator/sum/sum_test.go
index 50780656ccc..3387c83cc8d 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/aggregator/sum/sum_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/aggregator/sum/sum_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	ottest "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/internal/internaltest"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ func new4() (_, _, _, _ *Aggregator) {
 	return &alloc[0], &alloc[1], &alloc[2], &alloc[3]
 }
 
-func checkZero(t *testing.T, agg *Aggregator, desc *metric.Descriptor) {
+func checkZero(t *testing.T, agg *Aggregator, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) {
 	kind := desc.NumberKind()
 
 	sum, err := agg.Sum()
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@ func TestSynchronizedMoveReset(t *testing.T) {
 	aggregatortest.SynchronizedMoveResetTest(
 		t,
 		sdkapi.CounterObserverInstrumentKind,
-		func(desc *metric.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
+		func(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
 			return &New(1)[0]
 		},
 	)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/controller/basic/controller_test.go b/sdk/metric/controller/basic/controller_test.go
index 4cca2cc2442..dd90e7c0b7c 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/controller/basic/controller_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/controller/basic/controller_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	ottest "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/internal/internaltest"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
@@ -296,7 +297,7 @@ func (b *blockingExporter) Export(ctx context.Context, res *resource.Resource, o
 }
 
 func (*blockingExporter) ExportKindFor(
-	*metric.Descriptor,
+	*sdkapi.Descriptor,
 	aggregation.Kind,
 ) export.ExportKind {
 	return export.CumulativeExportKind
diff --git a/sdk/metric/correct_test.go b/sdk/metric/correct_test.go
index c5a62247bac..773a99de0a5 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/correct_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/correct_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 	metricsdk "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric"
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ type testSelector struct {
 	newAggCount int
 }
 
-func (ts *testSelector) AggregatorFor(desc *metric.Descriptor, aggPtrs ...*export.Aggregator) {
+func (ts *testSelector) AggregatorFor(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor, aggPtrs ...*export.Aggregator) {
 	ts.newAggCount += len(aggPtrs)
 	processortest.AggregatorSelector().AggregatorFor(desc, aggPtrs...)
 }
diff --git a/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic.go b/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic.go
index a8340b8ecbc..c01509faf04 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 )
@@ -40,13 +40,13 @@ type (
 		// data for the same instrument, and this code has
 		// logic to combine data properly from multiple
 		// accumulators.  However, the use of
-		// *metric.Descriptor in the stateKey makes such
+		// *sdkapi.Descriptor in the stateKey makes such
 		// combination impossible, because each accumulator
 		// allocates its own instruments.  This can be fixed
 		// by using the instrument name and kind instead of
 		// the descriptor pointer.  See
 		// https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-go/issues/862.
-		descriptor *metric.Descriptor
+		descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor
 		distinct   attribute.Distinct
 	}
 
diff --git a/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic_test.go b/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic_test.go
index dec7dbbeba5..131d73b5c7d 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic_test.go
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func asNumber(nkind number.Kind, value int64) number.Number {
 	return number.NewFloat64Number(float64(value))
 }
 
-func updateFor(t *testing.T, desc *metric.Descriptor, selector export.AggregatorSelector, value int64, labs ...attribute.KeyValue) export.Accumulation {
+func updateFor(t *testing.T, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor, selector export.AggregatorSelector, value int64, labs ...attribute.KeyValue) export.Accumulation {
 	ls := attribute.NewSet(labs...)
 	var agg export.Aggregator
 	selector.AggregatorFor(desc, &agg)
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ func testProcessor(
 
 type bogusExporter struct{}
 
-func (bogusExporter) ExportKindFor(*metric.Descriptor, aggregation.Kind) export.ExportKind {
+func (bogusExporter) ExportKindFor(*sdkapi.Descriptor, aggregation.Kind) export.ExportKind {
 	return 1000000
 }
 
diff --git a/sdk/metric/processor/processortest/test.go b/sdk/metric/processor/processortest/test.go
index 05fc7fb9b6b..15488f3370e 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/processor/processortest/test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/processor/processortest/test.go
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ type (
 	// unique descriptor, distinct labels, and distinct resource
 	// attributes.
 	mapKey struct {
-		desc     *metric.Descriptor
+		desc     *sdkapi.Descriptor
 		labels   attribute.Distinct
 		resource attribute.Distinct
 	}
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ func AggregatorSelector() export.AggregatorSelector {
 }
 
 // AggregatorFor implements export.AggregatorSelector.
-func (testAggregatorSelector) AggregatorFor(desc *metric.Descriptor, aggPtrs ...*export.Aggregator) {
+func (testAggregatorSelector) AggregatorFor(desc *sdkapi.Descriptor, aggPtrs ...*export.Aggregator) {
 
 	switch {
 	case strings.HasSuffix(desc.Name(), ".disabled"):
diff --git a/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/doc.go b/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/doc.go
index 18b00b8197f..cebdf0355e4 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/doc.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/doc.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ type someFilter struct{
         // ...
 }
 
-func (someFilter) LabelFilterFor(_ *metric.Descriptor) attribute.Filter {
+func (someFilter) LabelFilterFor(_ *sdkapi.Descriptor) attribute.Filter {
         return func(label kv.KeyValue) bool {
                 // return true to keep this label, false to drop this label
                 // ...
diff --git a/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/reducer.go b/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/reducer.go
index 6b8f3cd6eb1..deb9edd34f1 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/reducer.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/reducer.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ package reducer // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/processor/reducer
 
 import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 )
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ type (
 	// LabelFilterSelector is the interface used to configure a
 	// specific Filter to an instrument.
 	LabelFilterSelector interface {
-		LabelFilterFor(descriptor *metric.Descriptor) attribute.Filter
+		LabelFilterFor(descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor) attribute.Filter
 	}
 )
 
diff --git a/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/reducer_test.go b/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/reducer_test.go
index 3eb9ce3a268..178e6188d97 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/reducer_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/processor/reducer/reducer_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	metricsdk "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric"
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ var (
 
 type testFilter struct{}
 
-func (testFilter) LabelFilterFor(_ *metric.Descriptor) attribute.Filter {
+func (testFilter) LabelFilterFor(_ *sdkapi.Descriptor) attribute.Filter {
 	return func(label attribute.KeyValue) bool {
 		return label.Key == "A" || label.Key == "C"
 	}
diff --git a/sdk/metric/sdk.go b/sdk/metric/sdk.go
index d06596f918e..33b558f1155 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/sdk.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/sdk.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	internal "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/internal/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregator"
 )
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ type (
 	// mapkey uniquely describes a metric instrument in terms of
 	// its InstrumentID and the encoded form of its labels.
 	mapkey struct {
-		descriptor *metric.Descriptor
+		descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor
 		ordered    attribute.Distinct
 	}
 
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ type (
 
 	instrument struct {
 		meter      *Accumulator
-		descriptor metric.Descriptor
+		descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor
 	}
 
 	asyncInstrument struct {
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ var (
 	ErrUninitializedInstrument = fmt.Errorf("use of an uninitialized instrument")
 )
 
-func (inst *instrument) Descriptor() metric.Descriptor {
+func (inst *instrument) Descriptor() sdkapi.Descriptor {
 	return inst.descriptor
 }
 
@@ -308,7 +309,7 @@ func NewAccumulator(processor export.Processor) *Accumulator {
 }
 
 // NewSyncInstrument implements metric.MetricImpl.
-func (m *Accumulator) NewSyncInstrument(descriptor metric.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
+func (m *Accumulator) NewSyncInstrument(descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor) (metric.SyncImpl, error) {
 	return &syncInstrument{
 		instrument: instrument{
 			descriptor: descriptor,
@@ -318,7 +319,7 @@ func (m *Accumulator) NewSyncInstrument(descriptor metric.Descriptor) (metric.Sy
 }
 
 // NewAsyncInstrument implements metric.MetricImpl.
-func (m *Accumulator) NewAsyncInstrument(descriptor metric.Descriptor, runner metric.AsyncRunner) (metric.AsyncImpl, error) {
+func (m *Accumulator) NewAsyncInstrument(descriptor sdkapi.Descriptor, runner metric.AsyncRunner) (metric.AsyncImpl, error) {
 	a := &asyncInstrument{
 		instrument: instrument{
 			descriptor: descriptor,
diff --git a/sdk/metric/selector/simple/simple.go b/sdk/metric/selector/simple/simple.go
index b2cd41bc99d..0f06827f05f 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/selector/simple/simple.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/selector/simple/simple.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 package simple // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/selector/simple"
 
 import (
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
 	export "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/export/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregator/exact"
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ func lastValueAggs(aggPtrs []*export.Aggregator) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (selectorInexpensive) AggregatorFor(descriptor *metric.Descriptor, aggPtrs ...*export.Aggregator) {
+func (selectorInexpensive) AggregatorFor(descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor, aggPtrs ...*export.Aggregator) {
 	switch descriptor.InstrumentKind() {
 	case sdkapi.GaugeObserverInstrumentKind:
 		lastValueAggs(aggPtrs)
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ func (selectorInexpensive) AggregatorFor(descriptor *metric.Descriptor, aggPtrs
 	}
 }
 
-func (selectorExact) AggregatorFor(descriptor *metric.Descriptor, aggPtrs ...*export.Aggregator) {
+func (selectorExact) AggregatorFor(descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor, aggPtrs ...*export.Aggregator) {
 	switch descriptor.InstrumentKind() {
 	case sdkapi.GaugeObserverInstrumentKind:
 		lastValueAggs(aggPtrs)
@@ -106,7 +105,7 @@ func (selectorExact) AggregatorFor(descriptor *metric.Descriptor, aggPtrs ...*ex
 	}
 }
 
-func (s selectorHistogram) AggregatorFor(descriptor *metric.Descriptor, aggPtrs ...*export.Aggregator) {
+func (s selectorHistogram) AggregatorFor(descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor, aggPtrs ...*export.Aggregator) {
 	switch descriptor.InstrumentKind() {
 	case sdkapi.GaugeObserverInstrumentKind:
 		lastValueAggs(aggPtrs)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/selector/simple/simple_test.go b/sdk/metric/selector/simple/simple_test.go
index 5ba02c074fc..12e629d0403 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/selector/simple/simple_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/selector/simple/simple_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/metrictest"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/number"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/sdkapi"
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ var (
 	testGaugeObserverDesc         = metrictest.NewDescriptor("gauge", sdkapi.GaugeObserverInstrumentKind, number.Int64Kind)
 )
 
-func oneAgg(sel export.AggregatorSelector, desc *metric.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
+func oneAgg(sel export.AggregatorSelector, desc *sdkapi.Descriptor) export.Aggregator {
 	var agg export.Aggregator
 	sel.AggregatorFor(desc, &agg)
 	return agg
diff --git a/sdk/metric/stress_test.go b/sdk/metric/stress_test.go
index 09d89515d78..b005dba4242 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/stress_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/stress_test.go
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ type (
 
 	testKey struct {
 		labels     string
-		descriptor *metric.Descriptor
+		descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor
 	}
 
 	testImpl struct {
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func (f *testFixture) startWorker(impl *Accumulator, meter metric.Meter, wg *syn
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	name := fmt.Sprint("test_", i)
 	instrument := f.impl.newInstrument(meter, name)
-	var descriptor *metric.Descriptor
+	var descriptor *sdkapi.Descriptor
 	if ii, ok := instrument.SyncImpl().(*syncInstrument); ok {
 		descriptor = &ii.descriptor
 	}