Belgium:EU to fly officials to China for urgent textile talks

In a bid to solve the ongoing textile crisis between China and the European Union, the European Commission is dispatching its representatives to Beijing, tomorrow.

On one hand, due to restrictions, European ports are getting clogged with Chinese shipments, consisting bras, pullovers and trousers while retailers all over Europe seek these products as they are likely to run out of stocks.

They also fear that consumers will have to bear the brunt in case prices go up.

The move is expected to resolve all differences, bring in amicable solution that has percolated down to EU restricting certain categories of textiles and apparels from July 12, 2005, and pressing for more, once the categories under scrutiny are identified for exceeding their import limits.

Chinese textiles and apparel exports to the US and the European countries have seen record surges since the textile quotas expired on January 1, 2005.

It is understood that while Chinese imports are getting embargoed, EU retailers seek alternate sources for their requirements of bras, trousers, and other items from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and other South Asian countries.

France, Spain, Germany and Italy have already complained to the EU about their domestic textile industries being harmed due to unstoppable cheap Chinese imports.

EU Chief Peter Mandelson has been facing tough times as storm has been brewing up for quite some time now, and it may not be too long as the entire EU, China and the rest of the world waits with bated breath, at the outcome of the forthcoming talks.