EU trade chief Peter Mandelson is to recommend opening an investigation into a surge in Chinese textiles and clothing imports since the end of global quotas.
This could open the way for possible curbs on Chinese imports. The commissioner expressed concern about the growth of Chinese textile imports earlier this year.
Mr Mandelson's spokeswoman Claude Veron-Reville told reporters he had made the decision after a 'detailed look' at the statistics available on imports from China. She said Mr Mandelson would be advising the commission at the beginning of next week to open an investigation and consult the Chinese authorities informally.
Under the terms of its entry into the World Trade Organisation in 2001, Beijing agreed that members could cap imports of Chinese clothing and textiles at 7.5% above the level of shipments the previous year until 2008 - providing they demonstrate that their own firms are suffering.
The Commission said it now had sufficient data to open an investigation which, under its own guidelines, could lead to the imposition of such curbs on specific items of clothing and textiles after 75 days.
