./.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/C/W/489 
20 April 2004 
 (04-1763) 
Council for Trade in Goods Original:   English 
  
 
INTERNATIONAL TEXTILES AND CLOTHING BUREAU 
 
New Delhi Communiqué
 
  
The following communication, dated 16 April 2004, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of India, on behalf of the members of the ITCB that are also Members or Observers of the WTO. 
_______________ 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL TEXTILES AND CLOTHING BUREAU Council of Representatives 39th Session New Delhi, India 5-8 April 2004 
 
New Delhi Communiqué
 
 
 Meeting on the eve of the momentous occasion when, in eight months’ time, textile and 
clothing trade will have been integrated into the same mainstream of multilateral rules and disciplines 
as any other sector, the ITCB Council of Representativ es noted with satisfaction that the 40-year long 
saga of restrictions on their exports will come to an end.  
It noted that Canada, European Union and the United States have since notified the WTO 
confirming that, on 1 January 2005, they will eliminat e all remaining quota restrictions; furthermore, 
that the Textiles Monitoring Body had, in turn , recalled that all administrative procedures and 
measures maintained for the implementation of th ese restrictions shall likewise stand terminated. 
 The Council, however, lamented the fact that in contravention of its obligations under the 
ATC, the European Union had announced the introduc tion of new quota restrictions in the markets of 
10 more countries joining the Union from 1 May 20 04, and had determined the levels of these quota 
limits unilaterally. It recalled that barely eight months  are left before the complete elimination of all 
quota restrictions and, in a similar case in 1999, a dispute Panel and the Appellate Body had rejected 
the legality of such extension of quotas.    
It also expressed disappointment that the restra ining countries were continuing to deny the use 
of carry forward quotas for 2004, thus effectively redu cing access in the last year of the ATC. It called 
on those countries to review their position, so as to avoid disruption of long-standing trade flows.  
The Council resolved to exercise necessary vigilance during the remainder of the ATC period 
to ensure that all requirements under the Agreemen t are fully complied with. In this regard, the 
Council resolved to pursue the remaining matters for full and faithful implementation of the ATC G/C/W/489 
Page 2  
 
 through all available channels, including the pr ocesses of WTO’s Textiles Monitoring Body and the 
Council for Trade in Goods in the context of the upcoming last major review of the Agreement. 
 It expressed strong expectation that the restraining countries reject protectionist pressures, 
fulfil their contractual obligations, and thereby al so help strengthen confidence in the multilateral 
trading system.  
 The Council expressed the hope that the restrain ing countries consider the removal of other 
quotas applied to developing countries acceding to the WTO. 
 
The Council also expressed its hope that the re straining countries resist any precipitate 
recourse to alternate methods of protection and discr imination against developing and least developed 
economies -- given that they had chosen not to execu te the process of dismantling quota restrictions in 
a gradual and progressive manner as was required by the ATC. In this context, the Council resolved to 
take all appropriate steps to ensure that the ga ins made by painstaking efforts are duly preserved. 
 
Noting that the realisation of one of its ma jor objectives of full regard for WTO rules and 
principles in the area of international trade in  textiles and clothing had become possible through 
collaborative efforts by all its members, the Council paid tribute to all concerned.  
 
Looking beyond the legacy of quota restrictions , the Council reiterated the importance of its 
mandate for positive actions aimed at increasing member s’ exports of textiles and clothing by further 
improvement in access to markets, and of the need  for continued efforts to promote and strengthen 
cooperation among them.  
 The Council decided to pro-actively participate in discussions taking place in the restraining 
countries on such issues as might negatively impact  on members’ textiles and clothing trade. It 
reiterated its determination to press ahead for c onsolidating the gains already made and securing 
further liberalisation through the process of the Doha Round.  
 The Council expressed appreciation for the pr esence of and valuable contributions by 
representatives of importers associations (USA-ITA and NRF of the US, FTA Brussels, 
Textilimportorena of Sweden), the Cotton Textile E xport Promotion Council of India, and the Indian 
Cotton Mills’ Federation. The participation of Mr. Sanjoy Bagchi, former Executive Director ITCB 
and representatives from the Governments of Mauritiu s, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines and South 
Africa as well as of the Chairman Textiles Mon itoring Body of the WTO and the representatives of 
WTO, UNCTAD, ITC was also highly appreciated. 
 
The Council expressed profound gratitude to the G overnment of India for hosting the Session 
in New Delhi and for its most generous hospita lity. His Excellency, Mr. N.K. Singh, Member 
Planning Commission, Government of India, inau gurated the Session.  His Excellency, Mr. Dipak 
Chatterjee, Secretary Department of Commerce and His Excellency Mr. S.B. Mohapatra, Secretary Ministry of Textiles, Government of  India also addressed the Session.  
 
 His Excellency Mr. K.M. Chandrasekhar, Chairman ITCB presided over the Session. Mr. K.K. Jalan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles,  Government of India, and Dr. Magdi Farahat, 
Minister-Plenipotentiary of Egypt, served as the Vice-Chairmen.  
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