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Last week, ATP – the Portuguese Textile and Apparel Association – visited Casablanca to attend the Maroc in Mode fair. The trip included a series of institutional and cooperation meetings with various international entities, reinforcing dialogue and collaboration among key players in the global textile and apparel sector.
During the visit, the Portuguese delegation met with AMITH – the Moroccan Textile and Apparel Association – as well as representatives from EURATEX – the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, the UK Fashion and Textile Association, ITMF – the International Textile Manufacturers Federation, and IAF – the International Apparel Federation.
On the first day, Ana Paula Dinis, Director-General of ATP, delivered a presentation on the Portuguese textile and apparel sector, highlighting key figures, distinctive characteristics, and the relevance of commercial relations between Portugal and Morocco. She also framed the role of the Association and outlined the strategic challenges and priorities of the sector.
This was followed by a debate on public policies, involving ATP, EURATEX, ITMF, IAF, and UKTF. The roundtable addressed topics such as sustainability metrics, digital product passports, and issues related to competition, productivity, and sector competitiveness.
Still on the first day, AMITH representatives met with ATP President Ricardo Silva to explore potential cooperation and partnerships to promote business development between the two countries.
The second day included two institutional meetings. The first brought together AMITH and EURATEX, with Mário Jorge Machado as EURATEX President and Paul-Henri representing the European delegation in Morocco. Discussions focused on the challenges of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, particularly regarding rules of origin and the need for better coordination between Morocco and the European Union.
The second, more informal meeting gathered representatives from EURATEX, ATP, AMITH, and NCTO (United States) to explore ways of cooperation between the EU, Morocco, and the US, given Morocco’s free trade agreements with both regions. Topics included the strengths and weaknesses of each economic bloc and potential joint action on shared challenges, such as the minimis regime, already abolished in the US but still in effect in the EU.
These initial multilateral discussions highlighted the need to deepen communication between the parties, leveraging experiences and best practices that can be replicated across regions. The shared goal is to build bridges between markets, promote sustainable growth, stimulate innovation, and ensure fairer and more balanced trade exchanges.