Furthermore, the extreme concern expressed by the Commission to reduce the distortions to which state support for cotton gives rise in world markets disregards a series of factors: first of all, the slight impact which European aid now has on this sector (an aspect recognised by the African producer organisations which signed the Seville Declaration of 7 November 2003); secondly, the fact that
the EU accounts for only 2.6% of world production and is the largest importer, meeting up to 48% of its requirements through imports, which enter the EU on a duty-free basis; and thirdly the fact that world prices, which are highly volatile, depe
...[+++]nd above all on other factors such as the growing competition from synthetic fibres (with the adverse environmental impact this entails), strong fluctuations in world demand (which is today chiefly caused by the strength of the Chinese textile industry, a net importer of cotton despite its significant domestic production) and, last but not least, the aggressive cotton-supporting policies pursued by some developed exporting countries.2) du fait que la part de l'Union européenne dans la production mondiale n'est que de 2,6% mais qu'elle occupe le premier rang pour les importations, qui couvrent jusqu'à 48
% de ses besoins et sont exemptées de droit; et, 3) de ce que les prix mondiaux, très volatils, dépendent surtout d'autres facteurs, telles la concurrence croissante exe
rcée par les fibres synthétiques (avec toutes les conséquences défavorables sur l'environnement que cela peut avoir), les fortes fluctuations de la demande
...[+++] mondiale (en raison principalement de la vigueur de l'industrie textile chinoise, importatrice nette de coton bien que sa production interne soit importante) et, dernier point, mais non le moindre, les politiques agressives d'aide au coton appliquées par certains pays développés exportateurs.
