CSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology were invited to be part of the to China during February. The invitation was extended to give the delegation the technical credentials with which to comment on the spinning ability of Australian cotton. It was also thought that a preliminary report on the Cotton CRC Mill Survey project outcomes (from Japan, Korea and Australia) to be delivered at the seminars sponsored by ACSA on this mission would provide useful information to Chinese spinners contemplating using Australian cotton. For the same reason Mr Peter Cottle, Director of Cotton Australia and General Manager of Cotton Operations at Clyde Agriculture, was invited to provide expertise in sustainable cotton growing. The trip was organized by ACSA with help from the Austrade Offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. It was the second trip to China by an ACSA delegation in two years. Bureau of Economic Operations, State Economic & Trade Commission (SETC) SETC is responsible for the guidance and coordination of the key industrial operations. It monitors and analyses the operational situation and regulate the current national economic operations. Textile industry is one of the industries under the supervision and guidance of SETC. General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China (AQSIQ) AQSIQ monitors quarantine of imports and exports. The organization has 12 cotton inspection centers for inspecting quality and reconciliation of disputes. Defines and polices quality standards for all imports. Chinese International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) The China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Arbitration Commission and also known as the Court of Arbitration of the China Chamber of International Commerce from 1 October 2000) is a permanent international commercial arbitration institution which independently and impartially resolves, by means of arbitration, contractual or non contractual, economic and trade disputes. State Planning & Development Commission (SPDC) SPDC reports directly to the State Council. This agency is responsible for devising the national policy for national economic and social development, balancing total demand and supply, import and export, planning the trade of key farm produce, regulating the market to prevent shortage or surplus, coordinating major developments and monitoring investment projects. It sets rules governing the imports of key agricultural commodities including cotton under the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) system. One division is in charge of the allocation of the annual cotton quota. Bureau of Cotton and Jute All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (SMC) SMC is a government organisation responsible for the procurement, processing, marketing and distribution of cotton in China. China freed up the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperative’s monopoly over cotton procurement, marketing and distribution system in 1999 and again in 2001. It is likely to be restructured into a new organisation called the China Cotton Association. China National Cotton Exchange Established in 1999, the Exchange’s major function is to manage the National Cotton Exchange Market, China’s version of a cotton trading market, not a real futures market. Twenty-two remote terminals have been established in the main cotton distribution centres. China Cotton Reserve Management Corporation Previously this organization was part of SMC. Its primary role is to manage the national cotton reserve in accordance with national policy. Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation It formulates and implements specific policies and reform plans for foreign trade, economic cooperation and foreign investment. China Cotton Textile Association Previously this organisation was one section of the Ministry. It is now an industry organisation with membership from the industry itself. The Association is funded through membership fees, some government support and revenue generated from events and services. It collects and researches industry information and advises on state industry policies and industrial standards. Additional Note: Recent reports have stated that SDPC, SETC and MOFTEC will be restructured and amalgamated into one government body possibly this year. However, these organisations currently all exist.