Press Release: EU adopts measures to liberalise textiles and clothing trade

The European Union adopted measures on the 9 November 2000 to liberalise imports of 65 categories of textiles and clothing products from other WTO countries.

At the same time the Council adopted negotiating directives for the Commission to engage in talks with third countries aiming at additional reciprocal market opening of textiles and clothing trade.

The list of products to be liberalised as of 1.1.2002 represents 21.8% of the value of imports in 1999 or € 12.9 billion. The ATC established that countries - such as the EU - that maintain import restrictions in textiles and clothing shall progressively liberalise textiles and clothing trade by bringing the products under the body of GATT rules in four stages: at least 16% of the volume of their imports on 1.1.1995, 17% on 1.1.1998, 18% on 1.1.2002 and the remainder on 1.1.2005. In terms of the volume of 1990 EU imports - the reference year used in WTO - the list represents a share of 18.1%.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EC to liberalise 18% of its textiles and clothing imports http://www.europeansources.info/record/ec-to-liberalise-18-of-its-textiles-and-clothing-imports/

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