The textile sector has been brought under  normal  WTO  rules  from  the beginning of 2005. A  time schedule w&  prescribed for abolition  of  trade restrictions in other sectors and future actions of ths  type outside the normal WTO rules have been stopped.

But the protectionist pressures in the developed countries are still active. Now new ways of restricting exports  fiom  the developing countries have been introduced. Thus  the developing  countries  continue to suffer  serious harassment. Large number of  anti-dumping investigations were started  in respect of  the export products of  the developing countries. Even if the anti-dumping duties were not imposed finally,  the trade and production of the developing countries would still get hampered because of the uncertainty caused by  the  initiation of investigations. Some time the major  developed  countries  would  start investigations  of anti-dumping repeatedly against the same product, resulting in serious harassment  to the developing  countries.  It was verymuch noticed  in the textile sector  in the wake of removal of special trade restrictive regime in this sector.

Some more innovative methods of protection have also been used. The major developed countries started restraining  the  exports  fiom  the developing countries ostensibly to protect  the environment. A number of investigations were  started by  the developed countries and  in  several cases imports were stopped.  In many cases, the GATTIWTO  dispute settlement panels later found the actions of the major developed countries to be wrong. Even though  the measures were thus lifted, a lot of damage had already been done.