Brussels, 02/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - EURATEX, representing the EU's textiles and clothing industry, says it is 'shocked by the latest NAMA text', i.e. the revised compromise deal on industrial goods (NAMAS) unveiled by the chair of the World Trade Organisation negotiating committee on NAMAS, Don Stephenson, on 19 May 2008 to try and get the ball rolling in the Doha Round of trade talks (see EUROPE 9664). 'EURATEX considers that the implementation of the proposals contained in that text would represent a totally unbiased and unacceptable outcome to the Doha Development Agenda,' explains the organisation in a press release issued on 30 May. Agreeing to the deal would go against the negotiating mandate conferred on the European Commission by the Council in December 2003 that stipulates that all WTO members, apart from the least developed countries, must reduce their tariffs on textiles and clothing to the lowest common level and eliminate non-tariff trade obstacles. Since December 2003, the EU has simply been backtracking by reducing its ambitions in the talks, argues EURATEX, adding that it was high time that member states gave the European Commission new, clearer and more ambitious negotiating instructions. (H.B.)