The EURATEX President also expressed puzzlement as to why impact assessment studies on projected changes to preferential origin rules should be clothed in mystery, and why there was a lack of information and consultation by certain services of the Commission as to the proposals which were likely to be made, when it was evident that they might have serious consequences for the industries and employees chiefly concerned.
He also requested more information in respect of a study recently undertaken by the Commission in respect of the gap between import and retail prices in the EU-25 (a recent EURATEX analysis having shown that over a five year period import prices had fallen by almost 25%, whilst retail prices had remained largely static).
“A similar degree of clarity together with an early decision is also needed, he said, by the Commission in respect of textile and apparel trade with China in the year 2008, during which time, contrary to the USA, the EU market will no longer be the subject of safeguard quotas.”
EURATEX represents the textile and apparel industries of the EU-27 and of the EU's Customs Union partner, Turkey. It also has as members the candidate countries to the EU, the industry associations of the EFTA and Mediterranean rim countries, and has now formally welcomed the Russian industry among its members.
In 2006 the EU-27 textile and apparel industry employed close to 2.6 million workers, and had a turnover of €205 billion. Exports at €39 billion grew by 8% as compared to the previous year and accounted for close to 20% of turnover.
European Apparel and Textile Organisation
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.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "UBM China (Shanghai)")
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
