EU deal should avoid winter clothing shortage

IRELAND will avoid a shortage of clothing and underwear this winter after the European Commission took the first steps to defuse a major trade row with China yesterday.

EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson said he would remove “a serious glitch” in a quota system designed to manage imports from China and prevent suppliers from other countries being squeezed.

The EU brought in restrictions on imports of bras, knickers, shirts, blouses, jumpers and men’s trousers, but critics said the proposals were flawed from the start and poorly handled. Customs officials recently began seizing Chinese imports after quotas for the entire year were exceeded ahead of schedule.