Multi Fiber Agreement Related to Wto

The Multi-Fiber Agreement (MFA) was a trade agreement designed to regulate the textile trade among nations. It was established in 1974 and was signed by a group of 37 countries known as the Group of Multifiber Arrangement (MFA) in Geneva, Switzerland, under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The agreement allowed wealthy textile-producing nations to limit imports from less developed countries. However, it was abolished on January 1, 2005, in compliance with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The MFA aimed to control the flow of textile products into the markets of developed countries. Under the agreement, each member country was permitted to determine the level of imports it would allow into their markets on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis. This was done to enable developed countries to protect their domestic textile industries from foreign competition.

However, this agreement fell short of creating fair trade practices, as it allowed developed countries to control the flow of textile products into their markets, which undermined the economic potential of less developed countries. This was perceived as an unfair trade practice by the less developed countries that were restricted in their access to the markets of developed countries.

The MFA was the first agreement signed to regulate the global textile trade. However, it lacked transparency and predictability, which created distortions in the textile market. Also, the MFA restrictions were temporary and subject to renegotiation, making long-term planning difficult for textile producers and importers.

In 1994, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was transformed into the World Trade Organization (WTO), which aimed to create a more transparent, predictable, and fair trading system. Under the WTO, the MFA was replaced by the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) in 1995, which provided a ten-year transition period for member states to adjust to the new regime.

The ATC aimed to gradually eliminate textile and clothing quotas with the objective of creating a level playing field for all member countries. Developing countries were also given preferential treatment under the ATC, with more substantial quota increases and longer phase-out periods for textile products. This was done to ensure that the textile industry in less developed countries could compete fairly in the world market.

In conclusion, the MFA was a controversial trade agreement that aimed to regulate the textile trade among nations but was seen as unfair by the less developed countries. The WTO has since taken over trade regulation and has put in place the ATC, which is more predictable, transparent, and fair to all member states. The ATC has provided a level playing field, ensuring that the textile industry in less developed countries can compete fairly in the global market.