The Spanish Intertextile Council (Consejo Intertextil Español or CIE) has opposed the recent decision by WTO to approve duty-free access to EU market for Pakistani textile and garment products.

Laquidain Alexander, the newly-appointed President of the CIE said allowing duty-free entry of Pakistani textile and garment items would affect 600 Spanish companies and livelihood of about 10,000 workers.

The CIE has become the latest organization to oppose the WTO’s decision to help the Asian country recover from the devastating floods of 2010.

The European Apparel and Textile Confederation, Euratex, has already expressed its opposition to the WTO’s approval for 75 Pakistani items, mostly textile and leather goods.

Mr. Laquidain said the EU is currently passing through its worst economic and financial crisis, and there is a gradual increase in unemployment rates.

In such a situation, it is not right for the Spanish textile and clothing industry to foot the bill for aid proposed by the European Commission to Pakistan, he added.

He said that about 90 percent of the products imported by Spain from Pakistan are textile and clothing products and making them exempt from duty would negatively impact the country’s textile and apparel sector.

Mr. Laquidain opined that the tariff benefits provided under the EU package may not reach the people affected from floods, but would only increase the profits of companies.