Brussels, 25/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The next World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting is "crucial" for the European textile and clothing industry, says Euratex, calling on the Union to "ensure" that the Round's agenda "contains clear undertakings on the part of all members" to reduce their tariffs and prohibit non-tariff barriers in the sector.
"In the textiles-clothing sector, globalisation does not yet exist", and "today, there is no world market", stresses Jean de Jaegher, Euratex President, noting: "Most Asian and South American markets are closed to European exports and additional taxes levied on imports to India have the effect of increasing barriers to over 70%". Whence, he considers, the Union must include in its priorities for the Round: - a reduction of all customs tariffs to 15% or less, and their consolidation; - prohibition of all forms of restrictive non-tariff barriers (additional taxes, discriminatory treatment, certification, requirements regarding minimum prices, etc.); - confirmation of the protection of textile designs and models, already provided for by the agreement on the aspects of intellectual property rights linked to trade (TRIPS).
"The European textiles-clothing industry has already demonstrated its competitive ability when markets are open", stresses Mr. Jaegher, pointing to the Union's surplus in all industrialised countries and the rapid rise of its exports "as soon as markets begin to open", as in the case of Brazil and South Korea. "The time has come for other Asian countries to open up their markets", he added. Anticipating events, he rejected "any new concession to countries such as India". As, he recalled, "the latter have had the opportunity of gaining greater access to the European market in exchange for opening up their own borders", but the offer, made last spring "remains unanswered".