The European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said
on Sunday that he would on Monday propose to end a trade dispute
which has prevented the entry of millions of Chinese textiles into
European markets.
"I'm making proposals, the Commission is making proposals to our
member states... to begin the proceedings to unblock all the goods
currently held at customs," Mandelson said in an interview with BBC
News 24. Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday.
"And if they cooperate, I believe that we will be able to
unblock all the goods currently held at customs by the middle of
next month," he added.
In the past four days, the EU and China have been negotiating to
find a way to unblock some 75 million pieces of clothing being held
at European ports.
The problem stems from a new limit on Chinese clothing imports
to the bloc, which came into force in June and was designed to
protect the EU's own clothing manufacturers.
China has reportedly already exceeded its quota for the
year.
But some of Europe's biggest stores have warned that their
shelves might go empty if the goods are not released, and it now
looks as if EU officials will have to increase China's 2005 quota
after only two months.
Mandelson said the same problem would not happen next year and
he hoped the held goods would be given "speedy passage".
He said the problem was partly caused by the rapid expansion of
Chinese manufacturing which could not have been foreseen.
"Nobody has been made bankrupt. However, there are many
retailers - and I'm particularly concerned about small and medium
sized retailers - who have faced difficulty and it's not right they
have done so," Mandelson said.
With around 50 million sweaters and 17 million pairs of trousers
still stuck at European ports, big name stores across the continent
are growing anxious that these Chinese-made clothes might not be
released in time to prepare for the Christmas shopping season.
T-shirts and bras are the latest items to join the list of
products that have reached their EU quota limits.
Meanwhile, it was announced that Chinese and US officials will
hold a fourth-round of talks to try to reach a comprehensive deal
on Chinese textile exports to the US.
(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2005）