Brussels, 09/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 October, the European Commission announced it had decided with the Chinese authorities to set up a joint import surveillance system on imports of Chinese textiles that will operate for one year in 2008 on several categories of textiles and clothing from China. The mechanism, known as the “double checking system” will track the issuing of licences for export in China and the importation of goods into the EU. It will cover eight categories of products considered particularly sensitive: - T-shirts, pullovers, men's trousers, dresses, blouses, bras, bed linen and flax yarn. This arrangement is preferred to a quota system set up under the China-EU memorandum of understanding signed in Shanghai in 2005 (EUROPE 8967 and 9025), to temporarily restrict imports of Chinese textiles on the Community market. The mechanism, which expires on 31 December, must ensure “a smooth transition to free trade in textiles” (as stipulated by the WTO on 1 January 2005), Peter Mandelson stresses in a press release. The trade commissioner also welcomes this “further step in the cooperation between the EU and China” on textiles. The Commission feels that this double checking system must allow sudden rises in Chinese textile imports into the EU to be noted and to rapidly trigger safeguard measures. According to the Commission, the compromise found in Beijing received “very broad support” from the EU member states, whose trade experts in Committee 133 met during the day to look at the proposal. Diplomatic sources cited by AFP say that 19 of the 27 EU member states supported the agreement and hope it will be adopted. They include countries with the strongest textile industry in the EU, such as Spain, France and Italy. (eh)