• The EU have signed a great number of different preferential agreement, which contain different preferential rules of origin and customs advantages.
• Rules of origin are the centrepiece of those agreements allowing products originating from the signing countries to benefit from preferential treatment. Today, roughly 50% of EU textile and clothing imports enter with preferential or zero rate duties.
• Investments in the textile and clothing are secured in the EU by rules of origin and harmonisation of the latter must not destroy the EU production chain but rather favour an harmonious inter-penetration of activities with preferential countries to mutual advantages.

Francesco Marchi
Director of Economic Affairs
phone +.32.2.285.48.92
fax +32.2.230.60.54
e-mail francesco.marchi@euratex.org