Page 11 - TEXtalks International April/May 2022

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APTMA looks for support from new China issues

government to take textile exports to $50bn new guidelines

The textile industry has filed a package of submissions with Prime Minister Mian Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif
for his nod, which will help increase textile exports to $26 billion in the next fiscal year and $50 billion in the next to contribute to
five years. In a letter to the new chief executive of the country, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA)
urged him to ensure the continuation of the Regionally Competitive Energy Tariff (RCET) to the textile Industry
with RLNG price at $6.5/MMBTU and electricity at 7.5 cents/unit, immediate provision of gas connections to the the country’s
new units coupled with the extension of load for enhanced capacity and revival of sick units, and reaffirmation
for export sector priority in gas allocation.
APTMA also called on the Prime Minister to ensure the cotton support price for this season was fixed at climate &
Rs8,000/maund for the upcoming season to encourage farmers to grow more cotton, making a point that the
country every year loses at least $ 3 billion/annum on account of low production of cotton. The textile sector pollution targets
demanded a review of duty on Polyester Staple Fiber and the removal of anti-dumping duties to enable
Pakistani export products to compete internationally.

China, the producer of half the world’s textile fiber, positively to global issues. China already consumes
has unveiled a guideline that aims to significantly and produces about half the world’s coal, and
beef up its capability to recycle textile waste, most of continued expansion of output and capacity makes
which is non-biodegradable. Experts have lauded the achieving its climate goals ever more remote.
initiative for its potential role in promoting low-carbon,
circular economic development, saying it will The Chinese government plans to meet those targets
Euratex comes forward to facilitate pollution targets. The country aims to recycle a energy sources and more nuclear power plants. The
contribute to the country’s ambitious climate and
through a world-leading build-out of renewable
rocky expanse of the Gobi Desert is set to become
quarter of its textile waste and use it to produce 2
Ukrainian textile and apparel companies million metric tons of recycled fiber annually by 2025, home to an additional 455 gigawatts of wind turbines
and solar panels, more than double the total current
according to a document unveiled by the National
Development and Reform Commission, the country’s
capacity of the United States by 2030. Despite
top economic planner, and the ministries of industry
governments to bring forward the 2060 deadline for
and information technology, and commerce. Five pressure from environmental activists and Western
The European Apparel and Textile Confederation Ukraine reaching EUR500m. Hence, there is potential years on, from 2025, a relatively complete system for achieving net-zero emissions, China argues that its
(Euratex) has launched the EU-Ukraine Textile to expand relationships, both in the short term, to textile waste recycling will have been established in current plan is the fastest time frame a country of its
Initiative (EUTI) to facilitate cooperation between respond to urgent needs, and in the longer term, as the country, it said. By then, China will be able to size has proposed.
European and Ukrainian textile and apparel a partner in the PEM Convention. recycle 30 percent of its textile waste and produce 3
companies. Euratex says they will coordinate the million tons of recycled fiber annually. The United States and China are jointly responsible
service in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Ukraine can play an important role in Europe’s textile for 40% of their carbon emissions when it comes to
Association of Enterprises of the textile and leather and apparel supply chain, Euratex says. EU exports The commission said in a news release that as a key climate emissions. A common the US and Chinese
industry (Ukrlegprom). Olena Garkusha, an to Ukraine reached €1.3 bln in 2021 (13th market), part of establishing and then improving a green, “dream” of aggressive climate action will determine
experienced manager from the Ukrainian textile whereas imports from Ukraine reached €500 mln low-carbon, and circular economic system, recycling the world’s fate in avoiding the worst climate change
industry in Brussels, will act as a contact point. In (21st place). There is potential to expand that helps in resource conservation and the reduction of scenarios. The U.S.-China relationship has been
March, Euratex urged the EU to control oil and gas relationship, both in the short term – to respond to pollutants and carbon emissions. Only about fraught with conflicts. However, climate and
price spikes, saying many textile and clothing urgent needs, e.g., in the military and medical fabrics one-fifth of the roughly 22 million tons of textile waste environment have long been a channel for dialogue
companies would be forced to shut down production – but also in the long run; as a partner in the PEM generated in the country in 2020 was recycled, and
due to rising energy costs. Convention, Ukraine can play an important role in China produced only 1.5 million tons of recycled fiber between the two, which can be good for the planet
and act as a diplomatic lifeline when other parts of
Europe’s textile and apparel supply chain. The that year. It is expected that the initiation of such
Euratex notes that EU exports to Ukraine reached proposed suspension of tariffs on imported products targets could be a way forward to contribute the relationship are fraught with tension.
EUR1.3bn (US$1.4bn) in 2021, with imports from
from Ukraine by the EU will offer further opportunities.

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