SME Chamber

Textiles & Clothing Imports from China

GRTU as a
member of Eurocommerce issue the following Press Release issued by Eurocommerce
and edhered to by the national organisations in each member state representing
tradees and retailers.

 

Quota
Restrictions must be terminated end 2007

Brussels,
19 July
2007 – "The EU must terminate its import quota
for textiles & clothing from
China at the end of
2007. The recent calls by some to extend the current restrictions miss the point
and come in any case at a moment when most traders have already placed their
orders", said Xavier R. Durieu, Secretary General of
EuroCommerce.

 

 Stick to announcements,
terminate quota end 2007

A further
extension by one year is not an option. The EU textiles & clothing
manufacturers had ten years, from 1995 to 2004, to adapt to the end of the quota
system. In 2005 they were given two additional years. Yet another extension
would not save one single job, but penalise those producers who have invested in
research and innovation to anticipate the end of the quota
system.

 It is too
late to extend restrictions.

 The "bra
war" in 2005 showed that importers and retailers need 12 months predictability.
Importers and retailers relied on the EU announcement that the restrictions will
be lifted at the end of this year. If interested parties call for quota
restrictions for 2008 now, this comes months too late.

 SMEs
are those suffering most

The many
small and medium-sized importers and retailers were among those suffering most
in 2005. Now the EU must live up to its responsibility and spare SMEs – the main
job motor in Europe – another bad
surprise that would jeopardize consumer choice and product
availability.

Consumer
interests are at stake

Extending
the quota restrictions would further protect less efficient producers at the
expense of consumers, denying them the benefit of the best deal The impact on the purchasing power of consumers should not be
underestimated either. Another year under quota would be anti-competitive,
anti-consumer and protectionist.

 

 "The EU has only one choice: looking ahead to
the goals of the Lisbon strategy and
focusing on innovation and competitiveness", concluded Xavier R.
Durieu.

 

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