Peter Mandelson talks down resistance to Chinese imports
Link: Peter Mandelson talks down resistance to Chinese imports
Peter Mandelson, the European Union’s Trade Commissioner said, in an interview for BBC’s Newsnight programme, that any measures to reduce Chinese textile imports will be temporary.
They would aim to give European firms time to adapt to the changes in trade rules introduced when the Multi-Fibre Agreement, which governed the global textile trade, was replaced by a new system at the start of this year.
Both Europe and the US are concerned that the huge increase in cheap Chinese imports will damage domestic producers and lead to substantial job losses.
Mr Mandelson said the imposition of restrictions would not mean a return to quotas on textiles, but that the EU would focus on “managing the transition” in the industry. The EU’s long-term aim would be to redress the imbalance between European and Chinese exports.
Mr Mandelson’s comments followed a meeting with chief Chinese negotiator Gao Hucheng on Tuesday. Informal talks are continuing between the two sides.
Last week, China agreed to impose export tariffs on 74 categories of goods, but said that these would be withdrawn if the EU imposed quotas.
If the informal talks fail, the EU will start mandatory consultations under World Trade Organization rules on 1 June, giving it the right to impose punitive limits on imports 15 days later.
