May 25, 2005

EU gives China deadline on textiles imports

by brian_turner

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The European Union has given China until Tuesday to reduce its textile imports to the EU. If China refuses to comply, quotas may be imposed on textile imports by the fifteenth of June.

Global quotas on Chinese textiles ended in January, since when exports to the EU have increased substantially, threatening the European textile industry.

China has agreed to impose export tariffs on 74 categories of goods, but has said that it will withdraw this decision if EU quotas are imposed.

Informal talks will continue between China and the EU until 31 May, but if these fail, the EU will start mandatory consultations under World Trade Organization rules on 1 June. This will give it the right to impose strong limits on imports 15 days later.

Peter Mandelson, the EU Trade Commissioner, met with chief Chinese negotiator Gao Hucheng on Tuesday. The EU has said that the discussions were constructive, but no other details were released.

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