A Harrnonizecl Quality System Is Critical to Trade

摘要

During the past 10 years, world trade of cotton has continued to grow at a 4% annual rate and is projected to continue close to this level for the foreseeable future. However, this growth is not guaranteed, and the large quantity of competing fibers -primarily synthetics - has the potential to slow this growth rate. Synthetics are readily available year-round and have defined quality parameters which the fiber is sold on.Additionally, each lot or merge is nearly always uniform and consistent. How does cotton continue to grow in world trade in the face of increased supply of a competing product that is not seasonal and does not vary much if at all in quality? With respectto the issue of seasonality, cotton is grown in both the northern and southern hemispheres so that there is a supply of cotton available throughout the year with major cotton exporting countries in both hemispheres.