Mission
The Foreign Trade Association (FTA) is the association for European commerce specialised in international trade issues. Our members are national trade associations and companies from all over Europe.
For 30 years, we have provided them with monitoring and lobbying services in support of their commitment to free trade.
Some of our most successful initiatives comprise:
1977 Creation of the Foreign Trade Association
1978 The FTA participates in the GATT negotiations on the extension of the transitional period granted to Philippines
1980 First success in the antidumping sector; no antidumping duties on electric bulbs originating in State Trading Countries are imposed and the case is dismissed
1984 Another success within an anti-dumping proceeding; the case concerning imports of knitting yarns from Turkey is suspended
1986 Shortly after the founding of the so-called "Group of 18", the FTA participates in the textile negotiations held in Geneva
1993 Success for the FTA; anti-dumping duties are only imposed on mountain bikes from China, not Taiwan
1994 The results of the Uruguay Round prove successful for the FTA; our proposal for the automatic application of the three liberalisation stages in the textile and garment sector is accepted
1996 The FTA participates as an NGO in the first WTO Ministerial Conference in Singapore
1998 Two victories for the anti-dumping sector with provisional duties on bed linen to be refunded and definitive duties on cotton fabric being rejected
2000 After a five year struggle, including controversial discussions, the FTA and its allies are successful in getting a provision introduced to the EU customs code that allows importers to use a defence of "good faith" when accepting the accuracy of documents issued by the custom's authorities in exporting countries
2001 Lobbying by the FTA persuades WTO Appellate Body to rule against EU's anti-dumping policy on bed linen from India
2002 The FTA succeeds in introducing more stringent measures to the textile protection clause with China
2003 The FTA founds the Business Social Compliance Initiative, a platform of retail, importing and brand companies providing a practical system for better working conditions in the supply chain of commerce
2004 The FTA organises a well-received conference on "Textile trade after 2004 : Competition or new dirigism ?", highlighting the challenges of the textile and clothing sector in Europe and the world after the year 2004
2005 The FTA successfully campaigns for the release of 83 millions items of clothing blocked at EU ports as a result of new quotas
2006 Pressure from FTA results in a reduced antidumping term of two years being applied to imports of footwear from China and Vietnam
2007 The long-awaited judgment from the ECJ rules that anti-dumping duties paid on imports of bed linen from Egypt, India and Pakistan have been levied wrongfully and thus will be reimbursed. FTA members who protested the duties are now due a windfall in excess of €12 million.