U.S. - EU Proposal to Revise WTO Textile Labeling Rules Expected Soon
According to July 15, 2010 remarks by Chairman Wasescha of the World Trade Organization Negotiating Group on Market Access, a revised version of a textile labeling proposal sponsored by the U.S., European Community, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka is being drafted and is expected soon.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
(The original proposal, “Understanding on the Interpretation of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade with respect to the Labeling of Textiles, Clothing, Footwear, and Travel Goods” was first presented in 2007.)
Proposal Seeks to Limit Trade-Restrictive Effect of National Label Regulations
According to a Frequently Asked Questions document by the sponsors, the proposal is designed to reduce non-tariff barriers affecting trade in textiles, clothing, footwear and travel goods. However, it would not mandate that Members include certain information on labels or use specific colors, fonts, languages, etc. Rather, it would clarify the types of measures that should not more trade-restrictive than necessary (under Article 2.2. of the TBT Agreement).
This means that if a Member adopts a requirement that certain information be included on a label for textiles, clothing, footwear, or travel goods, other Members would have the right to “rebut,” or call into question, whether that requirement is more trade-restrictive than necessary. The type of information that could be rebutted in this way would include:
- Textile and clothing: fiber content, country of origin, and care instructions;
- Footwear: predominant materials of core parts and country of origin; and
- Travel goods: fiber content and country of origin.
(The proposal also includes certain other components, such as “giving positive consideration” to permitting any required information to be included on a non-permanent label rather than a permanent label, etc.)
Brazil, Argentina Ask to Exclude Footwear, Travel Goods from Proposal
Chairman Wasescha added that Brazil and Argentina recently asked the sponsors not to extend the proposal’s reach to footwear and travel goods, and stated that the proposals sponsors were considering the request as part of their update process.
Original 2007 version of the proposal is available here.
FAQ on the proposal is available here. (May have to open twice for proper viewing.)