Reintegration of Textile and Clothing Field into GATT

Abstract

Textile and clothing will be reintegrated into GATT after the Uruguay round. Since 1974 the industrial countries have limited the import of textiles and clothing by bilateral quota within MFA. This temporary derogation of the GATT rules in the textile field should have helped the industrial countries to recover their textile and clothing industry and to enable it to be competitive with the developing countries. Neither quantitative limitations nor high customs have solved the major problem of the textile industry of the industrial countries, and the consumers have paid too high a price for clothing. The Uruguay round foresaw a progressive decrease of textile import amounts in the period of 10 years as well as a decrease of customs. Textile and clothing trade will gradually become more transparent and predictable, and competition will be fairer. It will mean a complete integration of this field into the GATT rules and discipline, what will enable the developing countries to get an easier access to the markets of the industrial countries and enable them to buy more from them. The developing countries are expected to reduce their trade barriers for textile imports, what will lead to a decrease of the prices for textile products worldwide.