The third edition of PRIME SOURCE FORUM (PSF), the annual meeting place for the global apparel industry, will be attracting an even wider geographical spread of delegates at its next meeting in Hong Kong from 31st March to 2nd April 2008.
This is due to the growing support from relevant associations across Asia, Europe and the United States. (see Appendix A).
The timing will also be most apposite since there is concern throughout the industry as to the position of China at the end of 2008 by which time the European quotas and the safeguard measures taken by the USA will no longer apply.
Environmental issues and corporate social responsibility will be another two major issues to be discussed - their impact on this industry is becoming more and more significant.
Speaking on behalf of Pascal Lamy at this year's Forum, Stuart Harbinson, Special Adviser to the WTO's Director General confirmed the relevance of this meeting with these words:
"Your sector of trade is now, as ever, a laboratory for many issues which arise in international trade. This is because: - it is global in reach, highly responsive in nature and - dare I say - at the cutting edge of many of the issues. Gatherings like this are therefore extremely useful."
This is due to the growing support from relevant associations across Asia, Europe and the United States. (see Appendix A).
The timing will also be most apposite since there is concern throughout the industry as to the position of China at the end of 2008 by which time the European quotas and the safeguard measures taken by the USA will no longer apply.
Environmental issues and corporate social responsibility will be another two major issues to be discussed - their impact on this industry is becoming more and more significant.
Speaking on behalf of Pascal Lamy at this year's Forum, Stuart Harbinson, Special Adviser to the WTO's Director General confirmed the relevance of this meeting with these words:
"Your sector of trade is now, as ever, a laboratory for many issues which arise in international trade. This is because: - it is global in reach, highly responsive in nature and - dare I say - at the cutting edge of many of the issues. Gatherings like this are therefore extremely useful."
