Sourcing overseas for the retail sector - part one

December 2004

The abolition of quotas under the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) agreement on textiles and clothing – understanding the rules and their impact.
The end of the quota system on January 1, 2005, heralds the start of a period of uncertainty and greater complexity in the retail supply chain. A growing number of UK retailers are already sourcing globally as a means of increasing their productivity and reduce costs.

In this first in a four-part series of analysis, comments and opinions by PwC retail & consumer specialists, we examine the implications of the abolition of trade barriers in the textiles and clothing industry.

The three forthcoming papers in this series will cover:

• Corporate responsibility and responsible supply chain management
  
• Licensing as a management opportunity
  
• The essential elements of brand protection and risk
  

By clicking the download below you can access a printable copy of part one in this series.

View / print now (297K PDF)