Growth in world textile and clothing trade slowed to 5.3% in 2005. The deceleration was not surprising as it followed exceptional increases of 11.9% in 2004 and 13.7% in 2003. These were the fastest growth rates witnessed since 1995, when trade also grew by 13.7%. Six trade flows involving Asia (excluding intra-Asian trade) grew at double-digit rates. But in the case of other flows, trade either grew in single digits or declined. Textile exports from Asia to North America and Europe, for example, increased by 20% and 19% respectively, while those to Africa rose by 14%. Intra-European textile trade, on the other hand, fell by 5%. In clothing, Asian exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) shot up by 27%, while those to Europe and North America rose by 17% and 15% respectively. At the same time, however, intra-North American trade and exports from South and Central America to North America both fell in value by 2%. The US textile and clothing trade deficit rose by another 7.4% in 2005 to US$85.23 bn. As much as 88% of the total was in clothing. The EU25 deficit also rose, but by a slightly slower 6.4%, reaching US$46.20 bn. This figure represented only 54% of the US deficit. China continued to have the world's biggest textile and clothing trade surplus, followed by India, Italy, Turkey and Pakistan. The world's biggest textile exporter in 2005 was the EU25, followed by China. The EU25 was also the largest importer, followed by the USA, although China ranked as high as third among the world's leading import markets. In clothing, the world's leading exporters were again led by the EU25. But if intra-trade is excluded, China emerges as the leader with more than three times the value of extra-EU25 trade. As for clothing imports, 45% of the world total went to EU countries in 2005, while the USA took 28% and Japan 8%. | 
