Rules governing world trade in textiles and clothing will change drastically when new regulation is enforced at the end of 2004. Countries will no longer be able to protect their own industries by restricting the quantity of textile and clothing products being imported. The World Trade Organization's "Agreement on Textiles and Clothing" will challenge the decades of trade restrictions on global suppliers. Considerable adjustments have been made for all those involved in the supply chain: from cotton producers to fashion retailers; and from the least developed countries (LDCs) to the most developed countries. Understandably, there is considerable concern about the emergence of more competitive suppliers in China capturing a disproportionate share of the economic benefits when import restrictions are lifted.
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