Joe Nicosia, Global Platform Head-Cotton, Louis Dreyfus Company, will return to the International Cotton Association’s (ICA) stage at its upcoming Liverpool 2019 Trade Event that will be held in October 2019.

Nicosia says: This year's ICA meeting comes at a crucial time for the world’s cotton industry. The year ahead is full of uncertainty and challenges. There has rarely been a time when clear thinking and analysis is more important for the global cotton trade than it is now.

Liverpool 2019 will be held from October 09-10, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza and St George’s Hall in Liverpool, UK. The event has already attracted sponsorship from 17 companies and 500+ delegates from all sectors of the cotton world are expected to attend.

Hanoi-based SSI Research has revealed that Vietnam, a steady economic out performer in Asia, expects its GDP to grow by around 6.8 per cent this year. This growth could be attributed to spillover from the Sino-U.S. trade dispute and a discovery that its economy was previously larger than once thought.

Daunted by US tariffs on goods shipped from China, several manufacturers are moving to Vietnam. They can produce and ship the same goods from just across the border without paying US tariffs on a total $550 billion in goods made now in China. Low labor costs, pro-investment policies and lack of trade friction with the United States had already made Vietnam attractive to foreign factory investors.

Adding to its appeal, Vietnam is on track to enter a trade pact with the European Union after joining an11-country Trans Pacific Partnership free trade deal this year. Also, Vietnam is encouraging investment by software and high-tech hardware.

The ‘Global Textile Days in Tashkent 2019’ forum is being held in Tashkent from Sept 9 to 3, 201. As per Ilhom Haydarov, Chairman of Uzbek Textile Industry Association, the country plans to increase the volume of its textile exports to $2 billion this year. It exported textile products worth of $1.6 billion last year. The Uzbek government is planning to reprocess the entire cotton yarn produced in the country domestically by 2025 and increase export of textile products up to $7 billion.

The International Cotton Advisory Committee will hold its 8th meeting within the framework of the forum, which will bring together scientific experts and specialists from leading cotton-producing countries of the world, including from China.

Arun Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer of Dallas-based Nextt is visiting Lubbock this week with a mission to brand and promote Texas and United States’ cotton and interact with cotton researchers at Texas Tech University. He is already promoting Texas cotton as “Lone Star Cotton,” and his recent visit to Lubbock is part of the effort to promote and enhance the market opportunities for High Plains cotton.

Agarwal was impressed with the oil absorbency performance of the cotton based Towelie™ oil absorbent product, which he got introduced to, a few months back. Products like Towelie™ clearly promote the sustainable industrial applications of cotton, added Agarwal Nextt, a $ 500 million company supplies cotton home textiles to giants like Wal-Mart, Costco, Kohl’s, etc. The supplier, who manufactures 600,000 sq. mt. of fabric per day hopes to consume about 500,000 bales of United States’ cotton this year, which can come from the High Plains region.

The ‘Green Button Seal has been heavily criticised by the German textile industry which terms it as being superfluous and creating duplicate structures to those that already exist. The Green Button Seal for sustainable textiles was recently unveiled by the Gerd Miller, Development Minister of German. The scheme aims to ensure that its consumers can purchase clothes that have achieved certain social and environmental standards, including a minimum wage for textile workers, a ban on child labor, as well as the use of certain chemicals and air pollutants.

Müller was inspired to ensure the social responsibility and safety of the clothing industry after being moved by the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh. About 1,130 people were killed and 2,5000 injured when a garment factory collapsed in the capital Dhaka, affecting workers who made clothes for major chains like Benetton, Primark, Walmart, and Mango.

The seal has already been applied to products from some smaller German brands, but also large chains like Lidl and Tchibo.

China’s exports declined by 1 per cent in August 2019 as its sales to the US tumbled amid the escalating trade war between the two countries. The country’s imports too dipped by 5.6 per cent, leaving a trade surplus of $34.8 billion Economists had forecast these exports to grow by 2.2 per cent, while imports to shrink by 6.4 per cent. Shipments to the US fell 16 per cent from a year earlier.

Weak exports add pressure on China’s already-slowing economy and point to an increased need for its policymakers to beef up stimulus measures. The central bank plans to cut the amount of cash banks must hold as reserves to the lowest level since 2007, injecting liquidity into the economy with the goal of stimulating demand.

The US administration had raised tariffs on Chinese goods at the start of the month, and is set to ratchet up levies further in October and again in December if there is no breakthrough. China and the US will hold face-to-face trade negotiations in Washington in the coming weeks, after a rapid deterioration in relations last month left global investors reeling amid increasing evidence the conflict is harming both countries.

Eastman, the Gold Sponsor of 2019 Redress Design Award showcased its Naia^TM fabric at the final competition in Hong Kong. All finalists at the competition incorporated Naia^TM fabric remnants into their collection pieces.

Naia^TM is made from fully traceable and sustainably sourced wood pulp in a safe, closed-loop process where solvents are recycled into the system for reuse. In addition, it follows an optimised, low-impact manufacturing process with a low tree-to-yarn carbon and water footprint. With a third-party reviewed life cycle assessment compliant with ISO14044, it is listed on the Higg Materials Sustainability Index. Naia^TM is also certified as biodegradable in freshwater and soil environments and is compostable in industrial settings, having received the “OK biodegradable” and “OK compost” conformity marks from TÜV Austria. Due to its inherent softness and luster that blend well with other eco-friendly yarns, Naiacan be the starting point in the sustainability journey of virtually any fabric or garment.

With Naia^TM, Eastman offers a viable eco-conscious choice of materials for sustainable fashion. It is a global advanced materials and specialty additive company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. It has a diverse portfolio of specialty businesses and delivers innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in more than 100 countries and had 2018 revenues of approximately $10 billion.

"Though majority of the industry leaders believe trade agreements (FTAs) are not beneficial for Indian economy, a new research policy paper by former commerce secretary Rajeev Kher and Ram Upendra Das, Head of Centre for Regional Trade, an autonomous body promoted by the commerce ministry, offers a contrary view. The research paper reviews the most comprehensive of the 16 free trade agreements including the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), India-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement"

Though majority of the industry leaders believe trade agreements (FTAs) are not beneficial for Indian economy, a new research policy paper by former commerce secretary Rajeev Kher and Ram Upendra Das, Head of Centre for Regional Trade, an autonomous body promoted by the commerce ministry, offers a contrary view. The research paper reviews the most comprehensive of the 16 free trade agreements including the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), India-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement , India-South Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). It acknowledges that Indian imports have increased at a greater pace than its exports however, this growth should be viewed in proportion to total trade in both pre-FTA and post FTA scenario.

The paper helps the commerce ministry to make an informed decision on India’s participation in the RCEP. It assumes a special significance as India is actively engaged with not only the ten member states of the ASEAN and its six FTA partners - China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Declining trade deficit between India and ASEAN

Among the five FTAs that were considered, India was most engaged with the ASEAN in size of total trade ($81 billion) and the size of trade deficit ($12.9 billion). In ASEAN’s case, increase in its trade deficit was the least compared to other FTA partners during 2009-18. The country’s trade deficit to the total trade ratio vis-a-vis ASEAN decreased from -17.4 per cent in 2009 to -15.9 per cent in 2018. This is due to the fact that its total trade between India and ASEAN in the post-FTA period compared to the pre-FTA period, the increase in trade deficit is lower, hence the trade deficit to total trade ratio has declined.

The paper also highlights India's exports to all FTA partners primarily comprise non-raw material goods and constitute 78-96 per cent of the total materials. On the other hand, it imports primarily account for non-consumer goods. For ASEAN non-consumer goods was 84 per cent of total import. This can be an ideal export and import structure for India and FTA partners.

Need for better trade statistics

The paper also emphasises on the need for better trade statistics in services as lack of data hampers negotiations on trade in services. It recommends the development of a better understanding of trading, measurement and regulation of services in order to establish India as a major services exporter to take fuller benefits of FTAs. It also recommends a shift in India's engagements from geo-politics to geo-economics and studying FTAs on the basis of reciprocal benefits and employment generation potential rather than from a solely export perspective.

Mizoram's Tawlhlohpuan and Mizo Puanchei shawl or wraparound, the most exquisite and intricately designed handwoven textile, has received Geographical Indication (GI) tag under the Government of India's Department for promotion of industry and internal trade.

The 'Geographical Indication' tag is an indication used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to the origin. Such a tag conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is attributed to its origin.

The GI tag is like a boon for the weavers of the state as it will provide a platform to their products in the international market, ensuring better income for them.

Tawlhlohpuan is a medium-to-heavy, compactly woven, good quality fabric from Mizoram. It is known for warp yarns, warping, weaving and intricate designs that are made by hand. The fabric, which holds high significance in the Mizo society, is produced all across the state, with Aizawl and Thenzawl being the important production centres.

On the other hand, Mizo Puanchei is a colourful Mizo shawl, which is considered as the most colourful among the Mizo handloom products. It is an essential possession for every Mizo lady and an important marriage outfit in the state.

To weave this beautiful shawl, weavers insert designs by using supplementary yarns. At present, Puanchei is sold at Rs 1,800 per piece and Tawlhlohpuan at Rs 450 per piece respectively.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has been assigned the task of sewing the world’s largest T-shirt using cotton fabric to break the Guinness record, marking the centenary of founding anniversary of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Bangladeshi apparel manufacturer Palmal has been entrusted with sewing of the 350 ft. long and 250-ft. wide T-shirt using cotton fabrics, which will be one-size larger than the Indian-made T-shirt. Palmal will bear the cost of sewing the r-shirt and so logo of the company would be adorned with it. The T-shirt would be made into 500 to 1,000 pieces, after the celebration, and the money to be received from sale would be handed over to the labour-welfare fund.

Meanwhile, the BGMEA leaders have taken various initiatives to boost RMG export including digilisation of all RMG factories, boosting export and establishing on ‘RMG Sustainability Council’ (RSC). The proposal for forming RMG Sustainability Council’ (RSC) gets acceptability to all. The BGMEA wants to establish on ‘RMG Sustainability Council’ (RSC) to ensure full and independent national compliance monitoring system in Bangladesh. The RSC will be governed by BGMEA, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), brands, and workers’ representatives. It will take over all the safety-related matters in the RMG industry within the legal framework of the government of Bangladesh.