These bodies met representatives of member states in Brussels at the end of May 2008 after the publication of the latest draft proposals for non-agricultural market access.
William Lakin, director general of Euratex said: “The NAMA text is unacceptable for our enterprises and their employees and workers. In these circumstances, we need the EU to re-focus on the effective co-operation of the multilateral system to which all of us are fully committed; a reinforced EU market access strategy; and the achievement of genuine reciprocity in future free trade agreements.”
The World Trade Organisation conducts negotiations through rounds. The Doha Development Round commenced at Doha, Qatar in November 2001 and is still continuing. Its objective is to lower trade barriers around the world, permitting free trade between countries.
European companies in the textile and clothing industry are aiming to secure a more level playing field, in particular with emerging countries, and a balanced deal in terms of tariff reductions, the elimination of non-tariff barriers and adjustments to the way in which infringements to the multilateral rules are addressed.
