The European Union's Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, said Saturday he opposed the restoration of import quotas on clothing and textiles in the ongoing dispute with China. He instead supported concluding an agreement with Beijing on ensuring a "slower transition to open markets", DPA reported. "The E.U. does not want to restore import quotas on clothing and textiles that were abolished from the start of this year, but seeks agreement with Beijing on ensuring a slower transition to open markets," Mandelson told a World Economic Forum (WEF) conference at Jordan's Dead Sea resort. China's surging textile exports, since a World Trade Organisation agreement ending the old quota system went into effect on January 1, have met with strong criticism in the E.U. and the United States, and both voiced fears that their clothing industries could be undermined. Some North African textile-producing countries have asked Brussels to help them tackle the problem. "Given China's currency advantages and its low labour costs, it is clear that in the short term the impact of Chinese exports in the sector is going to be considerable," Mandelson said. --Mor 2213 Local Time 1913 GMT
