EU takes steps to unblock China textiles (AP) Updated: 2005-08-30 07:29
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The top European Union trade official took steps Monday
aimed at releasing the backlog of Chinese textile imports that have been held up
by a quota dispute at EU frontiers, AP reported.
![](xin_34080230093167128859.jpg) EU Trade
Commissioner Peter Mandelson gestures while speaking during a press
conference at EU headquarters on Monday, August 29, 2005. Mandelson said
Monday he has started moves to unblock Chinese textile imports held up at
EU frontiers. [AP] | Millions of dollars
worth of sweaters, bras and other garments have been blocked by EU customs
officials after Chinese exporters quickly overshot a quota agreement reached in
June to protect European textile producers.
European retailers have warned the holdup could lead to stores going bankrupt
and shoppers facing empty shelves this autumn and winter.
"I have ... set in motion procedures to unblock the goods," EU Trade
Commissioner Peter Mandelson told a news conference on Monday. He declined to
give details of his plans to release the goods, pending talks with European
governments.
Mandelson acknowledged that talks so far with governments of the 25 EU
nations and the Chinese authorities had "so far not produced a mutually
satisfactory solution" but added that he hoped European governments would
quickly approve his latest proposals.
He said it was unfair to penalize European retailers for "unprecedented
circumstances in the global textile market given the dramatic surge in Chinese
exports."
In a BBC interview Sunday, Mandelson said if his proposals were backed, the
Chinese goods could be freed up for sale in Europe by mid-September.
He played down fears of clothing shortages, saying that Chinese clothing
imports would increase even with the quotas agreed in June.
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