. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/MA/W/18/Add.14 
15 May 2006 
 (06-2360) 
Negotiating Group on Market Access Original:   English 
  
 
  
MARKET ACCESS FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 
 
Negotiating Text on Textiles, Apparel, Footwear and 
 
Travel Goods Labeling Requirements  
 
Communication from the United States 
 
Addendum  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 15 May 2006, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of the United States. 
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  As affirmed in Annex B, Pa ragraph 26, of the Hong Kong Mini sterial Text, non-tariff barriers 
(NTBs) are an integral and important part of the non-agricultural market access (NAMA) 
negotiations.  Consistent with pa ragraph 22 of the Ministerial Declaration, the United States now 
respectfully submits to WTO Members this draft ne gotiating text on reducing barriers to trade in 
textiles, apparel, footwear, and travel goods.     The United States first indicated its interest in  negotiating NTBs affecting textiles, apparel, 
footwear, and travel goods in its revised indicative list, tabled in November 2004 
(TN/MA/W46/Add.8/Rev.1).  On 1 December, 2005, th e United States circulated a concept paper to 
Members advocating more common approaches to labeling as a way to benefit exporters and 
consumers of textiles, apparel, and footwear acros s the globe (TN/MA/W/18/Add.12).  In March of 
2006, the United States also circulated an industr y-drafted non-paper describing specific labeling 
problems and proposed targeted solutions.   The United States has expanded coverage to include 
travel goods, based on subsequent conversations  with industry and trading partners.   
  Textiles, apparel, footwear, and travel goods  are products of importance to a range of 
countries, both developed and developing.  The United States sees this text as a positive way for 
Members to reduce the diversity of labeling appro aches in these areas, in order to save manufacturers 
time ( i.e., to avoid delays to market) and money ( i.e., to minimize costs of varying labeling schemes).  
The aim is to preserve the ability of regulators to require certain information to be provided on such 
goods in order to inform and protect consumers,  while minimizing the costs of providing this 
information; such savings would then be passed on to consumers.   The United States looks forward to conti nued discussions with Members on this draft 
negotiating text and on eliminating non-tariff barriers to  trade in textiles, apparel, footwear, and travel 
goods.  The United States is committed to an open and transparent process and is open to suggestions 
for improvement or additions to the draft negotiating text.   TN/MA/W/18/Add.14 
Page 2  
 
  Agreement on Reducing Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade Related  
to Labeling of Textiles, Apparel, Footwear and Travel Goods 
 
Members,  
 Recalling  that pursuant to paragraph 16 of the Doha  Ministerial Declaration, Members agreed 
to negotiations aimed at reducing or as appropriate eliminating ta riffs and non-tariff barriers on non-
agricultural products;   Recognizing  the important contribution of the textil e, apparel, footwear, and travel goods 
sectors to global economic growth and development; 
 
Noting  that textiles, apparel, footwear, and trav el goods suppliers and producers in exporting 
Members may require regulatory flexibility to adjust  to new labeling requirements and the subsequent 
commercial conditions, especially in the event that en try into force of such requirements is sudden; 
 
Reaffirming  that under the Agreement on Technical Ba rriers to Trade, Members shall ensure 
that technical regulations and conformity assessment  procedures are not prepared, adopted or applied 
with a view to or with the effect of creating u nnecessary obstacles to interna tional trade, and allow a 
reasonable interval between the publication of technical regulations and conformity assessment 
procedures and their entry into force, among other obligations;  
 
Desiring  to promote cooperative and effective ap proaches to enhance trade in textiles, 
apparel, footwear, and travel goods; 
 Agree as follows: 
 
1. a. Members shall not require information on permanent labels or marking beyond:  
 
i. country of origin, fiber content, care instructions, and information necessary for 
consumer safety, with respect to  textile and a pparel goods; and 
ii. country of origin with respect to footwear and travel goods.   
 
b. Members shall ensure that, at their discretion, manufacturers may provide additional 
information on permanent labels or mark ings with respect to all such goods. 
 c. Members remain free to require that reasonable additional information of use to 
consumers be provided on goods or packagi ng through non-permanent means, including, 
for example, information regarding [their] ma terial content [for footwear and travel 
goods].   
 2. 
 Upon entry into force of technical regula tions and conformity assessment procedures, 
Members should afford sympathetic considerati on to requests for flexibility to adapt to 
modifications of labelling requirements, allowi ng for both old labels and new labels to be 
accepted during the transition period.  
 
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