Released on = April 20, 2007, 3:47 am

Press Release Author = Namrata

Industry = Small Business

Press Release Summary = The Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) expired at the
end of 2004, marking the end of quotas limiting textile and clothing trade between
World Trade Organisation (WTO) members

Press Release Body = World Textiles and Clothing after Quota Elimination: Winners
and Losers

The Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) expired at the end of 2004, marking the
end of quotas limiting textile and clothing trade between World Trade Organisation
(WTO) members. Large developing countries-notably China, India and Pakistan-were the
most restricted by quotas. By implication, these are the likely winners from the
quota phase-out, especially China and India. The main losers are likely to be high
wage firms in the quota-restricted countries who have enjoyed protection for over 40
years. However, losers will also include small developing countries located far from
the major Western markets which benefited from quota-free access to those markets.
Future competitiveness in textiles and clothing will depend on total cost, lead
times, design and quality. Low labour costs alone will not be enough to make firms
competitive. This is especially true of firms in developing countries where wages
represent only a small share of total costs.

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