The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), UK-based Committee for International Cooperation Between Cotton Associations (CICCA) and International Cotton Association (ICA), US-based International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and Switzerland-based International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) have called for collaborative action from the cotton and textile sectors during the COVID-19 crisis.

The organizations urged all those engaged in the cotton and textile value chains to commit to take action that contribute to the recovery of the sectors starting 2021; communicate, collaborate and be responsive to the needs of their counterparties; continue to respect the trade rules that govern the sectors; recognize and publicize positive behaviors; and identify and call out negative, counter-productive commercial behaviors.

They also urged for mutual agreements that keep in mind their shared commitment to the long-term health of the international cotton and textile trade, and to the principles of fair and equitable trading practices on which it is built.