Brussels, 09/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - After a meeting in Paris last Thursday with the Chinese trade minister Bo Xilai, the Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson repeated that he would rather not “take a hasty decision” to tackle the massive influx of Chinese textile products on the Community market. “There is too much at stake for economic and trade relations between Europe and China in the long run to allow the textiles issue to undermine our strategic and commercial partnership”, said Mr Mandelson, adding that there was “no question of a diplomatic rift or trade war” between the two sides. Acknowledging that the explosion of Chinese textile imports put the European industry “into difficulties”, although it is “prepared” for this new commercial regime, the Commission said that it should be given “extra time to allow it to make the necessary adjustments”. On the details of the investigation launched on 29 April into 9 categories of Chinese textile products (EUROPE 8935 and 8938), Mr Mandelson warned that the measures he may end up taking would be “based on evidence and facts, not just the increase of imports but their impact on industry, the markets and trade flows”. However, he warned that if during its investigations, the Commission felt that for certain categories of products “the situation was more urgent and more critical”, it would take “measures more quickly” and in line with WTO rules. These measures would be limited in content and duration: “we are talking about specific measures for particular categories of import allowing us to set a ceiling for the growth of Chinese exports”, said Mr Mandelson. Mr Bo said that “if the conditions were met”, the Beijing authorities were inclined to “accept” the safeguard clauses which featured in China's protocol of accession to the WTO, although it feels that they are “discriminatory”. “We feel, however, that as things stand, conditions are not sufficient for such measures to be taken”, added the Chinese minister.