Rising to the challenge: Asian survivors of the quota expiry in global textiles and clothing trade

Developing countries, including least developed countries (LDCs), extensively rely on textiles and clothing (T&C) industry for employment and export earnings. They face serious adjustment challenges in post – quota expiry period. The available statistics have proven that many pre-elimination predictions were inaccurate and that the current state of affairs raises particular legal issues for these countries especially those considered in this article. The aim of this article is to briefly highlight major issues in the context of the evolving global trade in T&C from an Asian developing country perspective after expiration of quotas. The article would also assess some of the pre-elimination estimates in light of the available statistics as well as look at the issues raised in the current literature. The Case Studies highlight the performance of four important Asian developing country exporters of T&C and how these countries have fared in a less ‘incubated’ environment that is free from quotas.