Urgent consultations

摘要

Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner proposed to the EU Commission on May 17 that it launch formal consultations with China for two of the nine categories of textile imports from China currently under investigation: T- shirts and flax yarn. In view of the seriousness of market disruption in these categories, formal consultations need to begin immediately. These consultations will involve urgent discussions between China and the EU on how best to limit growth in Chinese exports in these categories. Under WTO rules, incorporated into China's accession protocol to the WTO, China is expected to use this period of consultation to propose means to manage the surge in its exports. Only if China does not take effective action will the Commission propose temporary limits on the growth of Chinese exports in the categories concerned in 2005.