European Apparel Exporters Call for Customs, Regulatory Streamlining in TTIP
The European textile and apparel industry is pushing for regulatory harmonization with the U.S. through the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, namely by streamlining labeling rules and customs procedures, a European Union association called Euratex said in a position paper released during the last TTIP talks. The latest round wrapped up on Oct. 3, and negotiators focused on progress made in services trade and some technical regulations (see 14100616).
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Both sides need to make customs procedures more flexible and efficient, said Eurotex, adding that the European Automated Economic Operator and the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism don’t provide enough benefits to authorized companies. The 10-digit U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule is also overly complex, and even use of customs brokers does not prevent misclassification which “leads to fines, penalties and delays," the position paper said.
The U.S. and EU should also change their laws to simultaneously address and recognize new fiber names. Currently, the process sometimes gives two different generic names in the U.S. and EU. Relaxing rules on country of origin labeling of textile and apparel is also necessary to eliminate burdens on companies, and the U.S. should shed American Society for Testing and Materials care instruction labeling in favor of International Organization for Standardization labeling, which is used throughout Europe, said the white paper.
TTIP would also benefit textile and apparel trade across the Atlantic by pushing the U.S. to harmonize its wool labeling laws with the International Wool Textile Organization Code of Practice, which would exclude U.S. labeling of non-wool fibers and products through its wool measuring system. Eurotex also called for mutual recognition of testing for carpets and rugs.