Sensitivity of textile industry could stall Doha World Trade Organization negotiations if it isn't dealt with individually.
Leaders GATT hosted a media call Tuesday from Geneva explaining that the Hong Kong ministerial meeting set for December "could not move ahead unless textiles were dealt with separately." Cass Johnson, president of the National Council of Textile Organizations (USA), says the proposal has been presented in an effort to focus countries leading up to the ministerial in concluding the round successfully.
Auggie Tantillo explains that there are enormous issues surrounding the textile and apparel global situation that cannot be addressed with an across-the-board formula approach. "What might be good for paper products, steel or chemicals won't address the sensitive issues of textile," he says.
He adds that a separate negotiating forum is needed to address the hypersensitive issues such as preferential trading arrangements, tariffs and non-tariff barriers.
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