World Cotton production and trade changed significantly in the 1980s as at least 6 new cotton producers and exporters emerged to become major U.S. export competitors. Fortunately there was a partially offsetting decrease in exports among some former competitors and the U.S. was able to maintain its average market share. Three important factors contributed to the emergence of new competitors--"development" of less developed countries (LDCs), major shifts in policy direction, and world prices. These factors are expected to be important again in the 1990s. And a new factor, trade liberalization, bears watching closely for its direct and indirect affects on world cotton.