. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TMB/N/60/Add.5/Suppl.4
13 November 2002
(02-6270)
Textiles Monitoring Body Original:  English
AGREEMENT ON TEXTILES AND CLOTHING
Notification under Article 2.1
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
Supplement
The Textiles Monitoring Body has received a fourth supplement to the notification made by
the European Community pursuant to Article 2.1.
The TMB, in accordance with Article 2.2, is circulating this notification to WTO Members
for their information.G/TMB/N/60/ Add.5/Suppl.4
Page 2
European Commission
Permanent Delegation
to the International Organizations in Geneva
Head of Delegation
8 November 2002
Dear Chairman,
I am referring to the question about European fairs, which you mention in your letter of
21 October 2002, dealing with the review, virt ually complete I hope, of the administrative
arrangement between China and the Community , and notified jointly by the two parties.1
The interpretation provided in your letter on the nature of these quotas is in conformity with
explanations provided to the TMB.  The quantities are granted annually on an ad hoc  basis.  In
practice, however, they have remained unchanged over the years, and although no commitment can be
given formally as to the future, I am in a posit ion to inform you that in the basic regulation of
application of the textiles import regime under preparation for the year 2003, these quantities arebeing proposed reconducted without modification. In all probability this will also be the case for the
year 2004, although no firm undertaking can be given as of now.
Hoping these clarifications will be of a nature to complete the review exercise by the TMB of
the administrative arrangement.
Yours sincerely,
Signed
Peter THOMPSON
Deputy Head of the Permanent Delegation
Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
_____________
                                                     
1 Although this communication refers exclusively to the administrative arrangements between China
and the European Communities which was jointly notified by the two parties pursuant to Article 2.17, thequestion raised by the TMB referred to the EC's notification made under Article 2.1, since it was related to the
quota levels provided for European Fairs during the period 2002-2004.