EU looks to curb Chinese textile deluge

The European Union has stepped up pressure on China to curb the surge in its textile exports, calling for immediate official consultations with Beijing on T-shirts and flax yarn that could forebode protective EU measures.

EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson said EU production and employment had already slumped “dramatically” in those sectors since the beginning of the year, when Chinese exports quotas were lifted under the rules of the World Trade Organisation.