Brussels, 03/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - MEPs are concerned about the ending of the joint monitoring system for Chinese textile and clothing exports to the EU. This system was implemented in order to manage the transition towards complete free trade in the sector and exercised a two-fold control of export licences issued by China and EU awarded import licences. It expired on 31 December 2008. At the same time, the sector has been experiencing difficulties and has lost 350,000 jobs over the last two years with the number of textile firms declining by 5%. These problems prompted an oral question form Corien Wortmann-Kool (EPP-ED, Netherlands) on behalf of the international trade parliamentary committee. During Monday's debate on 2 February, Catherine Ashton informed MEPs that social partners had not asked for the system to be extended. The commissioner for trade provided assurances that it was mainly Chinese imports that had increased but within reasonable limits, and that there had only been a slight increase overall in 2008. The political response is not to close down the markets but to ensure that companies can change, adapt and innovate. Above all, MEPs urged adoption of rules on labels of origin to avoid unfair trade. They also highlighted the need to continue monitoring statistics on customs and expressed concern about implementation of non-tariff barriers in many third countries. (A.B./transl.rh)