Retailers slam special incentives as bargain for unblocking Chinese textile
07 Sep '05
3 min read
With conflicting signals emanating from member countries as the Chinese textile tangle is being resolved, France seems to have gone along Germany's way for changing over its earlier stance of stopping Chinese imports due to public sensitivities in Germany with German general election coming up this month.
As per the terms of the agreement year 2006 quotas would be transferred in this year and help restore amicable settlement to satisfy all parties concerned, albeit temporarily.
Meanwhile, European retail lobby had harsh words for EU negotiators for poorly managing the situation that led to millions of Chinese-made bras, sweaters and other garments embargoed in various European ports.
The situation may ease this season but worst fears are confirmed as Ferry den Hoed, President of the Association says, "For the summer, we will be OK, but for the second half of next year it will be a big problem again."
Obliquely blaming Peter Mandelson who has been accused of being on vacation during the crucial rounds of textile negotiations, the association argued the quotas set by EU were based on wrong data of imported goods from China.
"It was badly managed," said Jan Eggert, secretary general of the Foreign Trade Association, which represents big retailers like Metro, the retail chain based in Düsseldorf.
Meanwhile, France changed its tune mid way to announce support to the blocked moves to loosen the quotas "in principle." Probably, it had in mind the 10 Airbus plane deal that changed the brought in "the change of heart."
On the other hand, it also sought clarification and interpretation of quotas according to a statement by French Trade Minister Christine Lagarde.
Changing gears was Italy too, which agreed with the compromise with a denial by both, Italian official and a commission spokesman, Stephen Adams, denying news reports that Italy had asked for an antidumping investigation of Chinese leather shoe imports in return for its agreement to the deal.
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