Tunis, 29/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - Trade Ministers from the Euro-Mediterranean area (France, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) and the European Commissioner for Trade, Pascal Lamy, meeting in Tunis on 28 September to discuss the future of textiles and clothing, took a joint commitment to boost the capacities of the industries of Europe and the partner countries to resist the growing pressure from Asian producers, especially China. The competition from these countries will increase inexorably after the total dismantling of the MFA (Multifibre Agreement) on 31 December.
Tunisia took the initiative for this ministerial-level meeting to solidify the commitment taken last July in Istanbul by the formal conference of trade ministers from the Euro-Mediterranean area, to help the textiles and clothing sectors to safeguard their market shares, which are under threat from the might of the Asian producers. This might, says Pascal Lamy, could become much greater on the European market if the American market closes its doors to Chinese products. Textiles and clothing professionals, from the Community and from the Mediterranean countries, meeting two days earlier in Tunis, called upon the governments to react both to ensure the best conditions for the competitiveness of businesses, reforms to improve the business climate and to support efforts to innovate and modernise. Tunisia, the host country, has offered to host a Mediterranean fashion institute.
Commissioner Pascal Lamy has announced his intention to publish proposals before the end of his mandate (probably next week) in favour of Community textiles and clothing on the basis of the conclusions of the working group in charge of this specific field.