European Apparel and Textile Organisation
24 rue Montoyer – B – 1000
Brussels
phone: + 32.2.285.48.81 – Fax : +32.2.230.60.54
e:mail : william.lakin@euratex.org
Web-site : www.euratex.org
EU Textile and Clothing Industry makes formal request for China safeguard.
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European Apparel and Textile Organisation
24 rue Montoyer – B – 1000 Brussels
Web-site: www.euratex.org
PRESS RELEASE
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EU TEXTILE AND CLOTHING INDUSTRY MAKES FORMAL REQUEST FOR CHINA SAFEGUARD.
12 product categories targeted
Brussels March 10th2005
On March 9th, acting on behalf of the European Apparel and Textile industry, EURATEX made formal application to the Commission and member-states to apply the special textile safeguard clause to 12 categories of products imported from China. In all cases the combination of volumes and prices demonstrates beyond doubt the unacceptable trading practises from which they stem.
The products concerned are:
• CATEGORY 5 : Jerseys and pullovers etc. knitted
• CATEGORY 6 : Trousers and shorts of wool, cotton, or mmf woven
• CATEGORY 7 : Women’s or girls’ blouses etc. of wool, cotton or mmf
• CATEGORY 12 : Panty-hose and tights, socks etc
• CATEGORY 15 : Women’s or girls’ woven overcoats, raincoats etc
• CATEGORY 16 : Men’s or boys’ suits etc. of wool, cotton or mmf
• CATEGORY 17 : Men’s or boys jackets or blazers - idem
• CATEGORY 26 : Women’s or girls’ dresses - idem
• CATEGORY 31 : Brassieres
• CATEGORY 78 : Garments - other
• CATEGORY 83 : Other overcoats, jackets or blazers
• CATEGORY 117 : Woven fabrics of flax or ramie
Speaking in Brussels, EURATEX Director-General Bill Lakin stressed that the decision to formally request safeguard action had been made after serious and extensive consideration of available data and following a unanimous decision at the EURATEX Board meeting in Vienna on March 4th. “The time has now come to limit the seemingly voracious appetite of Chinese exporters for the European market.
But it is disappointing that we were only able to make a proper assessment of the problem by using China’s own export data, rather than the partial and delayed January 2005 import data available through the EU monitoring system.
The Chinese figures themselves demonstrate by their sheer volumes and a clear and present danger to producers of those articles in the Pan Euro Mediterranean area, and amply justify immediate safeguard action by the EU.”
Overall Chinese textile and clothing exports to the EU grew by 46,5% in value between January 2004 and January 2005 according to China’s own export figures. In the targeted categories, increases in volume of 625% were registered into the EU-15 with price falls of 36% for jerseys and pullovers. Chinese exports of women’s shirts and blouses to the same markets more than tripled in volume (+244%) with price falls of 41%. Exports of brassieres too rose steeply by 493%, as their prices fell by 36%.
EURATEX is seeking EU action under Article 241 of the protocol of accession of China to WTO. This special textile safeguard clause permits a WTO member to take safeguard action to limit the growth of Chinese exports in cases where market disruption threatens to impede the orderly development of trade.
EURATEX represents the textile and clothing industries of the enlarged European Union and of the countries of the pan Euro Mediterranean area.
For further information contact:
Mr. W.H. LAKIN
Mr. F. MARCHI
Director General Director Economic Affairs
Tel : 00 32 2/285.48.81 Tel : 00 32 2/285.48.92
Fax : 00 32 2/230.60.54 Fax : 00 32 2/230.60.54
E-mail : william.lakin@euratex.org E-mail : francesco.marchi@euratex.org