European textile and clothing industries Market access French textile and clothing associations 01/26/05 Washington DC

Why market access is a top priority for the french and european clothing and textile industries?

1. The french and european markets are saturated and the european consumer is growing old.  In 2050, 35% of the european population will be more than 60 (20% today).  The european consumer is buying more easily leisures, services or electronic devices than clothing.  In constant euros, the french consumption is exactly the same today than 15 years ago.

2. The importations are growing rapidly.  The european imports of textiles and clothing, with 70 billions euros, increased of 68% since  This increase is probably greater in quantities due to the fall of import prices in real terms.

3. The retailing system is more and more concentrated.  In France, big retailers already have 66% of market share and are growing in all european markets.  Big retailers can organize themselves to source the european markets by imported goods.

That is why the growth opportunities should be seeked in the external markets.

This priority is reinforced by three reasons.

1. The end of the MFA restrictions will lead to a decrease of our share of our internal market.  The share of China has doubled since 1990 and will pursue its unrelenting advance at the detriment of the other suppliers including the europeans.

2. The exchange rate between the euro and the US dollar handicaps our exports.  Since 2001, the US dollar decreased of 50% toward the european single currency.

3. The Uruguay Round schedule of tariff reduction has expired the first of january.  The WTO ministerial conference of Hong Kong in december 2005 has to establish the modalities of a new tariff reduction and of the elimination of the technical barriers to trade.