For many in the medium and small-scale glassware industry, India's obligations as a founding member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have harmed their business. The removal of quantitative restrictions on imports since 1997-1998, under WTO rules, has proved disastrous for them as cheaper, better-quality foreign items have captured up to 55 per cent of the market share in 2001-2002 (DGCIS figures). Last year, 29 companies were listed by the All India Glass Manufactures' Federation as having closed down.