The EU Commission is committed in trade liberalisation under the WTO rules. In these sectors like in others, free and fair trade must be the rule.
However, free trade is a two-way avenue: the fast growing developing countries, mostly in Asia, must also open their markets to the EU textile and footwear products which are famous for their quality, fashion design and originality.
Textile and Clothing Since 1995, world trade in textile and clothing has been progressively liberalized. Accordingly, all textile and clothing quotas lapsed on 31 December 2004 as foreseen under the WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC).
However, in order to mitigate the impact of this liberalization an agreement has been concluded in June 2005 between the EU and China, the fastest growing exporting country, which aims at achieving full liberalization by December, 31st 2007.
It is worth recalling that textile has always been a significant sector in the world trade both for developed and developing countries alike. According to WTO estimates, in 2004, world exports of textile and clothing amounted to €566 billion, more than 6 percent of total world exports.
The EU is the world's second largest exporter of textile products in 2004, with EU-25 exports accounting for a 12.5 percent share of world textile exports, and the world's second largest exporter of textile and clothing accounting for a 7 percent share.
The EU Commission attaches great importance to seeking better market access conditions in third countries for the EU textiles and clothing industry targeting in particular developed and emerging markets.
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
