The European Union (EU) has agreed with China to end quota
restrictions on Chinese textile imports with a joint surveillance
system to monitor the trade flow in 2008, the European Commission
said on Tuesday.
The "double checking system" will track the issuing of licenses
for export in China and the importation of goods into the EU, the
commission said in a statement.
It will operate for one year in 2008 following the end of quota
restrictions on Chinese textiles and clothing, the statement
said.
Following a so-called "textile war," the EU and China reached an
agreement in June 2005 on resuming quotas on China's textile
exports to the EU, which expires at the end of 2007.
Although imports of these goods will be closely monitored, their
level of import will not be restricted by this arrangement, the
EU's executive arm said.
"I welcome this further step in the cooperation between the EU
and China in ensuring a smooth transition to free trade in
textiles," said EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.
Mandelson said a system of joint monitoring means predictability
for EU producers and traders as well as a clear picture of future
developments as the EU makes the final step to free global trade in
textiles and clothing.
According to the commission, the joint surveillance system will
cover eight categories of textiles and clothing from China, namely
T-shirts, pullovers, men's trousers, blouses, dresses, bras, bed
linen and flax yarn.
The system will be formally adopted by the commission in the
coming days. On the EU side, national licensing offices will be in
charge of the monitoring.
(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2007)
