A senior European Union official promises action Monday to resolve the customs dispute that has stranded millions of dollars' worth of Chinese textiles at European ports.
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson says all Chinese shipments that have been blocked from entering Europe could be released within a few weeks - by mid-September.
China's exports of low-priced textiles and garments to Europe, the United States and other nations surged early this year, after a global system of textile quotas ended on January 1. China agreed in June to a quota system limiting its shipments to Europe, but those quotas were filled so quickly that millions of items of Chinese clothing were left stranded at customs checkpoints.
EU textile producers say the imports are harming their business, but retailers say they have already paid for the Chinese clothing and want the imports released.
The European trade commissioner, who was speaking Sunday in Brussels, said EU member states' cooperation would be essential in resolving the trade dispute with China. Officials from both sides have been meeting in Beijing for the past four days.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AFP.
##
