EU Chief Mandelson professes China to sort textile issues

10 Jun '05

2 min read

The European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson during a visit to Shanghai, called on China to avoid imposition of EU curbs on soaring importation of textiles from there.

He will discuss the vexed textile trade issues with Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai later in the afternoon.

He called it an opportunity to prevent quotas being imposed over rising its textile exports.

It is for China to agree on voluntary 7.5 percent exports per year of T-shirts and flax yarn exports to the EU or face temporary caps on the products, as ruled out earlier by the EU.

Mandelson said, "We have a limited opportunity and there is no question of this being dragged on over many days."

He said he hoped for an agreement with the Chinese government so as to avoid textiles explosion, which has already affected Europe and several developing nations.

He added, "We will have a negotiation and I hope an agreement, but if we don't have an agreement, then we'll have to take other measures.'

China, meanwhile has expressed concerns over its stake in the global textile. It says that over 19 million people earn their livelyhood and the textile sector plays important part in its export-oriented economy.

Earlier, the US imposed curbs on seven types of Chinese textiles importations, which are estimated to cost China $2 billion and affect the lives of 400,000 workers, mentioned a Chinese textile association official in state media, Friday.

More Textiles News - China...