Brussels, 01/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission may next Wednesday adopt a communication by the Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson presenting guidelines with a view to the application of safeguard measures for textile products from China. The Commission will also examine the tricky issue of possible safeguard measures to protect the European market from an invasion of Chinese textiles following the substantial rise in imports since the quotas were abolished.
While rejecting the idea of a return to the old system of import quotas which ended on 1 January this year, Mr Mandelson has already emphasised that the EU could “limit Chinese exports” if their rise to power reached “unacceptable levels or if unfair practices are established”, insisting that any measures must respect WTO rules. China confirmed on Monday that it would limit the growth in its exports. According to Chinese statistics, clothing exports rose 28.1% in January and February, as compared with the first two months of 2004. Cloth exports have leapt by 34.6%. China already controls almost one third of world textile exports.