Which WTO agreement phased out the global system of textile and clothing quotas?

The WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing phased out the global system of textile and clothing quotas.

The Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, commonly called the ATC, entered into force with the WTO in 1995. It established a ten-year transition from the earlier Multifibre Arrangement, which had allowed importing countries to impose quotas on many textile and clothing products from exporting countries.

The ATC integrated textile and clothing trade into the normal GATT rules in four stages. The transition ended on 31 December 2004, and the quota system was terminated on 1 January 2005. Textile and clothing trade then became subject to the general WTO rules, although other trade measures could still apply.

The ATC should not be confused with the WTO Agreement on Safeguards. The ATC created a transition and integration process, while safeguards are temporary emergency measures available under specified conditions.