./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/L/471
31 May 2002
(02-3017)
Original:  English
COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INTERNATIONAL
 TEXTILES AND CLOTHING BUREAU
Thirty-Fifth Session
Hanoi, Viet Nam, 20-23 May 2002
Communication from Hong Kong, China
The following communiqué from the above-mentioned meeting has been received from the
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office on behalf of members of the ITCB1 that are also Members or
Observers of the WTO, with the request that it be circulated to delegations.
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INTERNATIONAL TEXTILES AND CLOTHING BUREAU
Hanoi Communiqué
1. The ITCB Council of Representatives, meeting at its 35th Session in Hanoi, expressed
disquiet at recent signals from some developed restraining countries regarding the direction of theirtrade policy affecting developing countries’ exports of textiles and clothing. It noted with grave
concern the pressures being exerted on their governments by protectionist interests and their apparent
predisposition to employing trade remedy instruments such as anti-dumping and countervailing
measures after the elimination of quota restrictions from 1 January 2005.
2. The Council called upon the major developed countries to fulfill their responsibilities towards
developing economies and the integrity of the multilateral trading system, resist protectionist
pressures, and fully comply with their obligatio ns under the WTO in particular the Agreement on
Textiles and Clothing (ATC).
3. The Council resolved to resist the abuse of anti-dumping and other trade remedy procedures.
In this regard, it recalled that trade-chilling effe cts ensued immediately on initiation of investigations
into unjustified allegations and decided to bring developing countries’ experiences and concerns to the
on-going negotiations under the Doha Work Programme. It recalled that these negotiations are aimed,
inter alia , at clarifying and improving the disciplines in these areas taking into account the needs of
developing countries. The members further resolved to remain vigilant and resist attempts against
undermining their export interests through multiple and complex origin rules.
                                                     
1 The ITCB members and observers of the WTO are:  Argentina;  Bangladesh;  Brazil;  China;
Colombia;  Costa Rica;  Egypt;  El Salvador;  Guatemala;  Honduras;  Hong Kong, China;  India;  Indonesia;Republic of Korea;  Macao, China;  Maldives;  Mexico;  Pakistan;  Paraguay;  Peru;  Sri Lanka;  Thailand;
Uruguay and Viet Nam.WT/L/471
Page 2
4. Noting the prevalence of tariff peaks on imports of textile and clothing products in sharp
contrast to generally low overall tariffs on industrial products in developed economies, the Council
decided to emphasize the phenomenon at all levels. It stressed that negotiations under the Doha
Development Agenda were aimed at the reduction or elimination, inter alia , of tariff peaks “in
particular on products of export interest to developing countries”.
5. The Council stressed that the engagement of developing countries in the Doha Development
Agenda is predicated on full delivery of the Uruguay Round legacy, in particular the commitment to
fully and faithfully integrate trade in textiles and clothing into the normal disciplines of the WTO.
Given that, contrary to the principle of progressive elimination of quota restrictions under the ATC,
the great bulk of quotas remains in place despite the lapse of 7½ years of the transitional period, theCouncil resolved to seek satisfactory conclusion  to the 2nd major review of the ATC and to the
implementation issues left over from Doha. The resolution of these issues was essential to restoring
the balance of rights accruing to developing exporting countries and advancing the WTO work
programme in general.
6. The Council emphasized the importance of full compliance with the provisions of the ATC to
provide meaningful increases in access possibilities for small suppliers and least-developed countries.
It stressed the responsibility of the restraining countries to allow for continuous industrial adjustment
and increased competition in their markets and urged that any downward adjustment in quota levels
was contrary to the attainment of this purpose.
7. The Council decided to continue evaluating the emerging tendency to single out textile and
clothing for the purposes of environmental and social standards or other requirements which have the
potential of becoming non-tariff barriers. It also decided to proactively explain the deleterious effects
of these attempts on development prospects of developing countries and on their efforts for povertyalleviation.
8. The members expressed their determination to remain vigilant and enhance mutual
cooperation and coalition-building in order to ensu re that existing commitments are fully complied
with by the restraining countries and that hard-earned liberalization in the sector is not undermined by
unjustified recourse to trade-constricting actions.
9. The Council expressed appreciation to the representatives of importers’ associations from
Europe, United States and Japan for their valuable contributions to its deliberations and for their
efforts at informing public opinion in their countries about the benefits of free trade in textiles and
clothing.
10. The presence of Chairman of the Textiles Monitoring Body of the WTO and representatives
of WTO, UNCTAD and ITC was highly appreciated.
11. The Council was profoundly grateful to the Go vernment of Vietnam for hosting the session in
Hanoi from 20 to 23 May 2002. It expressed its full support for the prompt accession of Vietnam tothe WTO.
12. His Excellency, Mr. Dang Vu Chu, Minister of Industry of the Government of Vietnam
inaugurated the session. Mr. Stuart Harbinson was elected Chairman and Mr. Le Van Dao, Deputy
Director-General, Vietnam Ministry of Trade and Mrs. Betty Berendson of Peru were elected as Vice-Chairpersons for the session.
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