Mandelson hopeful of striking deal with Beijing on garment exports

EUROPEAN Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said on Sunday he hoped to strike a deal with Beijing before the end of the day to unblock millions of Chinese garments piled up in EU ports because they exceed import quotas.

Mr Mandelson is holding talks with Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai to resolve a problem that has split the 25-member European Union, embarrassed the European Commission, the EU executive, and marred the run-up to an EU-China summit in Beijing today.

“I hope that we will get agreement, if we’re going to get agreement at all, before the summit,” said Mr Mandelson.