China said Friday that Turkey's proposal to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on textile is one-sided and unacceptable, according to officials close to the world trade body.
China was referring to the proposal tabled by Turkey on establishing a work program in the Goods Council of the WTO to fully and periodically review global textile, clothing production and trade and to develop "appropriate remedies."
In the paper, Turkey said that China's exports of textile increased a lot since the quota on textile and clothing was abolished last January and many developing countries now face the risk of being swept away from their traditional export markets.
At the Goods Council's meeting on Friday, Chinese officials said that Turkey was attempting to make China a scapegoat by using dubious figures and hasty generalizations.
Turkey had failed to mention that its textile exports had grownup to 30 percent in some markets, and that it is now the second largest supplier to the European Union (EU) with 14 percent market share, according to the Chinese officials.
They added that China's painful structural adjustment had paid off in the rise of not only its exports, but also imports as it is now the third largest textile importer in the world. It has also offered duty-free textile access for 25 poorest countries in Africa.
Some other developing countries including India, Pakistan, Brazil and Chile, also voiced their disagreement to the Turkey proposal, saying that they could not agree to sector-specific work programs in the Goods Council.
The EU said it can understand the issues raised by Turkey, but there could be no turning back of the clock despite transitory steps like its recent agreement with China.
Japan also said it could not agree to a work program that would result in new trade restrictions.
(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2005)
