Yahoo! News - EU states united over rise in Chinese textile imports
Yahoo! News - EU states united over rise in Chinese textile imports
EU states united over rise in Chinese textile imports
Sun Apr 24, 8:35 PM ET
LUXEMBOURG, (AFP) - European Union countries were united over the need to address a rise in textile imports from China, but remained divided over how to address the problem, officials said.
AFP/File Photo
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"We noted solidarity among the 25 EU member states who understand that it is necessary to assure the future of the European industry," French Foreign Trade Minister Francois Loos told AFP after a meeting of EU ministers over dinner.
The bloc's trade chief Peter Mandelson said, however, that EU member countries had differences of opinion about what action to take.
"I do feel there is a range of opinion on the kind, type, content, speed of action on this issue," he said.
"That variety was expressed across the spectrum during the dinner tonight but everyone is united in wanting to show solidarity to those who are being adversely affected."
At their meeting in Luxembourg, 13 textile-producing EU member states had argued that the bloc's executive Commission should quickly adopt countermeasures to rein in a rise in textile imports from China.
There were complaints that the stance adopted by the EU was too conciliatory and some states wanted the list of Chinese-made products under EU investigation to be extended.
The demand was made by Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
On Monday Mandelson's officials are to launch an investigation into nine categories of Chinese textile or clothing products.
These include T-shirts, pullovers, mens' trousers, blouses, stockings and socks, as well as women's overcoats, bras and flax yarn.
Mandelson earlier Sunday stepped up pressure on China to curb a "ruinous" surge in textile exports, urging it to take action or face possible EU steps to protect Europe's clothing industry.
He made the call as he gave details of the surge in Chinese imports since the end of a quota system in January, and confirmed plans to investigate specific areas where the European Union might impose import ceilings.
"If justified by the facts I will use the safeguards," he said, referring to measures which allow the 25-member bloc to take action if imports threaten European producers.
"I urge China to take a fresh look at the measures they have put in place already, and explore whether they cannot do more," said Mandelson, who is to travel to Hong Kong on Monday.
Mandelson confirmed he would recommend this week that the European Commission launch formal probes into the surge in textile imports, with a view to possible safeguard measures.
The EU trade commissioner said the investigations should take at most 60 days, saying he hopes to have results by June and that, if necessary, the EU will impose limits on Chinese imports shortly after that.
Beijing has warned that its ties with the EU could suffer if Brussels goes ahead with limits, while the EU's textile trade industry, backed by producer countries such as France and Italy, has been lobbying hard for immediate action.
Mandelson said that imports of textiles had increased by up to 534 percent in some cases in the first three months of this year, against a guideline increase of a maximum 100 percent.
EU states united over rise in Chinese textile imports
Sun Apr 24, 8:35 PM ET
LUXEMBOURG, (AFP) - European Union countries were united over the need to address a rise in textile imports from China, but remained divided over how to address the problem, officials said.
AFP/File Photo
Related Quotes
DJIA
NASDAQ
S&P 500
10157.71
1932.19
1152.12
-60.89
-30.22
-7.83
Delayed Data
Providers - Disclaimer
"We noted solidarity among the 25 EU member states who understand that it is necessary to assure the future of the European industry," French Foreign Trade Minister Francois Loos told AFP after a meeting of EU ministers over dinner.
The bloc's trade chief Peter Mandelson said, however, that EU member countries had differences of opinion about what action to take.
"I do feel there is a range of opinion on the kind, type, content, speed of action on this issue," he said.
"That variety was expressed across the spectrum during the dinner tonight but everyone is united in wanting to show solidarity to those who are being adversely affected."
At their meeting in Luxembourg, 13 textile-producing EU member states had argued that the bloc's executive Commission should quickly adopt countermeasures to rein in a rise in textile imports from China.
There were complaints that the stance adopted by the EU was too conciliatory and some states wanted the list of Chinese-made products under EU investigation to be extended.
The demand was made by Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
On Monday Mandelson's officials are to launch an investigation into nine categories of Chinese textile or clothing products.
These include T-shirts, pullovers, mens' trousers, blouses, stockings and socks, as well as women's overcoats, bras and flax yarn.
Mandelson earlier Sunday stepped up pressure on China to curb a "ruinous" surge in textile exports, urging it to take action or face possible EU steps to protect Europe's clothing industry.
He made the call as he gave details of the surge in Chinese imports since the end of a quota system in January, and confirmed plans to investigate specific areas where the European Union might impose import ceilings.
"If justified by the facts I will use the safeguards," he said, referring to measures which allow the 25-member bloc to take action if imports threaten European producers.
"I urge China to take a fresh look at the measures they have put in place already, and explore whether they cannot do more," said Mandelson, who is to travel to Hong Kong on Monday.
Mandelson confirmed he would recommend this week that the European Commission launch formal probes into the surge in textile imports, with a view to possible safeguard measures.
The EU trade commissioner said the investigations should take at most 60 days, saying he hopes to have results by June and that, if necessary, the EU will impose limits on Chinese imports shortly after that.
Beijing has warned that its ties with the EU could suffer if Brussels goes ahead with limits, while the EU's textile trade industry, backed by producer countries such as France and Italy, has been lobbying hard for immediate action.
Mandelson said that imports of textiles had increased by up to 534 percent in some cases in the first three months of this year, against a guideline increase of a maximum 100 percent.
posted by Eastlaw @ 9:43 PM
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