EU may fast-track Chinese textile import restrictions

Paris has asked the European Commission to take emergency action against soaring imports of Chinese textiles.

French trade and industry ministers have written to Brussels requesting emergency measures to limit imports.

“We have received a very short letter signed by Francois Loos and Patrick Devedjian. We will examine it,” said a commission spokesman on Tuesday.

The commission on Monday announced a probe into Chinese import levels – a move that could lead to ‘safeguard’ restrictions by the end of September.

A formal French request for emergency action could fast-track import restrictions and bypass a five month period of consultations and negotiations.

“We always said that we have the possibility of speeding up the investigations and we have put into place the means to move more quickly,” said the spokesman.

The EU executive will decide on Thursday how to take the first steps to seeking possible import restrictions.

China has warned the EU that import restrictions will be challenged in the WTO and may hit cosy bi-lateral trade relations.

“This decision is against the usual position of free trade, of the EU government and threatens the long-term stable development of the China-EU textile trade,” said a government spokesman.

“We hope that the EU can acknowledge fully the negative influence on bilateral trade relations when it imposes limits on Chinese textile products.”

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