The quota regime for textiles and clothings is not likely to exist beyond the 2005 deadline despite requests from some developing countries for extensions, a senior WTO official said on Tuesday.“Beyond December, it is unlikely that the quota will exist since the countries are willing,” WTO deputy director general Kipkorir Ali Rana said. He added that the quota would go despite requests from “some countries” to extend the deadline, since countries had arrived at a broad consensus on removing it.India and other developing countries favour removal of the quota from January 2005, many stand to benefit from an easier and less expensive system for sourcing. Ali Rana said the WTO member countries negotiate trade rules, but it is the businesses which are ultimately affected by the decisions taken.In India, several retail chains including WalMart and JC Penney have indicated that their apparel sourcing from India will go up once quotas are phased out.Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) meeting, Rana said the WTO has already started its capacity building exercises for trade integration for countries that face end of preferences. He said cotton was top-most on the agenda, as is sugar.
