A stitch of an industry

In the 21st century, the problems of Arab industrial exports have been aggravated by more open markets. In particular, the region’s textile and clothing (T&C) industry is in flux, with strength and consolidation of the market position of some producers — notably Egypt and Jordan — and the decline of others, including Lebanon. As a result of the Middle East peace process, Jordanian and Egyptian manufacturers have obtained a favorable status in the lucrative American market through the Qualifying Industrial Zone (QIZ) agreements, which have been instrumental in boosting their exports of clothing to the US. Jordan in particular has seen its garment sector expand rapidly over the past decade under QIZ agreements. Since the mid-1990s Jordan began a more open trade and investment policy, negotiating a QIZ trade accord with Israel and the United States — among other agreements made with individual countries or trade blocs, not to mention