October 1, 2004

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Following the Council on Trade in Goods session on Friday, October 1^st, the Global Alliance for Fair Textile Trade (GAFTT) issued the following statement:

Today was an historic day for millions of textile and apparel workers around the world whose livelihoods are threatened by countries that use unfair trade practices in order to monopolize world trade in textiles and apparel.  According to reports, governments from nearly 30 countries around the world demanded that the World Trade Organization undertake an urgent review of the impact of the quota phase-out and propose solutions to prevent the impending crisis.

This dramatic breakthrough is even more significant due to the fact that this issue was not even on the agenda of the World Trade Organization three months ago.  Today, the Council of Trade in Goods devoted seven hours to hear from countries that fear that tens of millions of jobs may be lost in this vital sector following the January 1^st phase-out of quotas. 

GAFTT would like to thank the governments of Mauritius, the Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Uganda, Fiji and Sri Lanka for making the initial request for official action by the WTO in regard to this matter.  Their courageous and decisive leadership has been critical in persuading the WTO to make this issue a top concern. 

Additionally, in the Council meeting, statements from the United States and European Union acknowledged the concerns of countries from around the world and noted that major exporters must look beyond their own borders and act responsibly to prevent massive disruption in the marketplace.  In that light, the GAFTT calls on China , India , Hong Kong and Pakistan to work in concert with the dozens of countries now calling for the WTO to act to prevent the crisis that is now close at hand.

While GAFTT is pleased that the WTO has agreed to address the concerns of member countries on the quota expiration issue, there must also be effective action to prevent a few countries from overwhelming the marketplace while the WTO reviews a comprehensive solution to the textile crisis.  GAFFT urges that major importing countries recognize the need to employ the special textile safeguard in recognition of the concerns expressed by so many countries today. 

Given the fact that quotas will expire in three months time, GAFTT urges the WTO to place this issue on the permanent agenda of the Council of Trade in Goods and move quickly to propose realistic and effective solutions to this global crisis.

Textile and Clothing Trade Associations Endorsing the Istanbul Declaration as of September 1, 2004.

Argentina - Federacion Argentina de Industrias Textiles (FADIT-FITA)

Austria - Association of the Austrian Clothing Industry

Austria - Fachverband der Textilindustrie Osterreichs (Die Textilindustrie)

Austria - Eurocoton

Austria - Vereinigung Textilindustrie

Austria - Joint Committee of the Textile Finishing Industry in the E.U. (CRIET)

Bangladesh - Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA)

Bangladesh - Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA)

Bangladesh - The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Bangladesh - Bangladesh Terry Towel & Linen Manufacturers and Exporters Assoc.

Belgium - Federation Belge de L?Industrie Textile (FEBELTEX)

Belgium - Eurocoton

Belgium - Joint Committee of the Textile Finishing Industry in the E.U. (CRIET)

Belgium - International Association of Users of Artificial and Synthetic Filament Yarns

                 and of Natural Silk (AIUFFAS)

Bolivia - Asociacion Nacional de Textileros de Bolivia

Bolivia - Federacion Textil Andina

Botswana - Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA)

Bulgaria - Association of Apparel and Textile Exporters in Bulgaria

Bulgaria - Bulgarian Association of Textile and Clothing

Bulgaria - Bulgarian Industrial Chamber

Bulgaria - Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Chile - Instituto Textil de Chile ? Asociacion Gremial

Colombia - Asociacion Colombiana de Productores Textiles (ASCOLTEX)

Colombia - Federacion Textil Andina

Costa Rica - Costa Rica Textile Chamber

Costa Rica - Textile Quota Council

Czech Republic - Association of Textile-Clothing-Leather Industries

Dominican Republic - Dominican Free Zones Association (ADZONA)

Denmark - Joint Committee of the Textile Finishing Industry in the E.U. (CRIET)

Ecuador - Asociacion Textil del Ecuador (AITE)

Ecuador - Federacion Textil Andina

El Salavador - Union de Industrias Textiles

France - Eurocoton

France - Federation Francaise des Industries Lainiere et Cotonniere (FFILC)

France - Union Francaise des Industries de l?Habillement (UFIH)

France - Union des Industries Textiles (UIT)

France - Joint Committee of the Textile Finishing Industry in the E.U. (CRIET)

France - International Association of Users of Artificial and Synthetic Filament Yarns         

               and of Natural Silk (AIUFFAS)

Germany - Eurocoton

Germany - Industrievereinigung Garne ? Gewebe Technische Textilen

Germany - Joint Committee of the Textile Finishing Industry in the E.U. (CRIET)

Ghana - Gold Coast of Ghana

Greece - Association des Industries Cotonnieres de Grece

Greece - Hellenic Fashion Industry Association

Greece - Eurocoton

Greece - Panhellenic Union of Cotton Ginners and Exporters

Honduras - Honduran Apparel Manufacturers Association

Indonesia - Himpunan Pengusaha Kecil & Koperasi - Tekstil and Produk Tekstil

                    (HPKK-TPT)

Indonesia - Asosiasi Industri Rakyat (AIR)

Indonesia - API DKI JAYA ? Indonesian Textile Association of Greater Jakarta

Israel - The Manufactures? Association of Israel, Fashion & Textile Industries Assoc.

Italy - Associazione Italiana Industrie della Filliera Tessile Abbigliamento (AIIFTA)

Italy - Associazione Tessile Italiana (ATI)

Italy - Eurocoton

Italy - Joint Committee of the Textile Finishing Industry in the E.U. (CRIET)

Italy - International Association of Users of Artificial and Synthetic Filament Yarns

           and of Natural Silk (AIUFFAS)

Ivory Coast - Agency for the Promotion of Exports (APEX-CI)

Jordan - Jordan Garments, Accessories & Textile Exporters Association (JGATE)

Kenya - Kenya Apparel Manufacturers Exporters Association

Kenya - Kenya Association of Manufacturers ? Textile Sector (KAM)

Latvia - Association of Textile and Clothing Industry

Lesotho - Lesotho Textile Exporters Association

Lithuania - Lithuanian Apparel and Textile Industry Association

Madagascar - Madagascar Export Promotion Association (GEFP)

Mauritius - Mauritius Export Processing Zone Association (MEPZA)

Mauritius - Mauritius-US Business Association  (MUSBA)

Mexico - Camera Nacional de la Industria Textil (CANAINTEX)

Mexico - C?ra Nacional de la Industria del Vestido (CNIV)

Mexico - C?ra Mexicana de la Industria Textil Central

Mexico - C?ra Textil de Occidente

Namibia - Namibian Investment Authority

Nepal - Garment Association of Nepal (GAN)

Netherlands - Joint Committee of the Textile Finishing Industry in the E.U. (CRIET)

Norway - Joint Committee of the Textile Finishing Industry in the E.U. (CRIET)

Paraguay - C?ra Textil Paraguaya

Peru - Comite de Confecciones de la Sociedad Nacional de Industrias del  Per?

Peru - Comite Textil de la Sociedad Nacional de Industries del Peru

Peru - Federacion Textil Andina

Philippines - Confederation of Garments Exporters of the Philippines

Poland - The Gdynia Cotton Association

Poland - Polish Textile and Clothing Chamber

Poland - Polish Chamber of Textile Industry

Poland - Union of Employers of Textile Industry

Portugal - Federation of Portuguese Textile and Clothing Industry (FITVEP)

Portugal - Textile and Apparel Association of Portugal (ATP)

Senegal - Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Exports (APIX)

Slovenia - Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, Textiles, Clothing and

                    Leather Processing Association

South Africa - Clothing Trade Council of South Africa (CloTrade)

South Africa - Export Council for the Clothing Industry in South Africa

South Africa - South African Textile Industry Export Council (SATIEC)

South Africa - Textile Federation of South Africa (TEXFED)

Spain - Agrupacion Espanola de Desmotadores de Algodon (AEDA)

Spain - Asociacion Industrial de Proceso Algodonero (AITPA)

Spain - Consejo Intertextil Espanol

Spain - Eurocoton

Spain - International Association of Users of Artificial and Synthetic Filament Yarns

             and of Natural Silk (AIUFFAS)

Sri Lanka - Joint Apparel Association Forum

Sri Lanka - National Apparel Exporters Association

Swaziland - Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority (SIPA)

Swaziland - Swaziland Textile Exporters Association (STEA)

Switzerland - Eurocoton

Switzerland - Swiss Spinning Committee

Switzerland - Joint Committee of the Textile Finishing Industry in the E.U. (CRIET)

Switzerland - International Association of Users of Artificial and Synthetic Filament

                       Yarns and of Natural Silk (AIUFFAS)

Tanzania - Tanzania Investment Center (TIC)

Tunisia - Federation Nationale de Textile (FENATEX)

Turkey - Turkish Textile and Raw Materials Exporters Association (ITKIB Textiles)

Turkey - Turkish Ready Wear and Garments Exporters Association (ITKIB Apparel)

Turkey - Turkish Clothing Manufacturers Association (TGSD)

Turkey - Turkish Textile Employers Association (TUTSIS)

Turkey - Eurocoton

Turkey - Joint Committee of the Textile Finishing Industry in the E.U. (CRIET)

Turkey - International Association of Users of Artificial and Synthetic Filament Yarns

                and of Natural Silk (AIUFFAS)

United Kingdom - Joint Comte. of the Textile Finishing Industry in the E.U. (CRIET)

United Kingdom - International Association of Users of Artificial and Synthetic

                               Filament Yarns and of Natural Silk (AIUFFAS)

United States - American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC)

United States - American Yarn Spinners Association (AYSA)

United States - National Cotton Council (NCC)

United States - National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

United States - National Textile Association (NTA)

Uruguay - Asociacion de Industrias Textiles del Uruguay

Venezuela - Asociacion Textil Venezolana (ATV)

Venezuela - Federacion Textil Andina

Zambia - Export Board of Zambia

Zambia - Textile Producers Association of Zambia