Malta in hot water with EU over textiles

Malta has been identified by the Directorate for Trade of the European Commission as one of a small group of member states that are not providing important statistical data to Brussels about the importation of textiles, thus slowing the decision-making process of the EU in this sector.

This information is considered as very important in view of repeated calls from member states for the EU to control the importation of textile products from China.

DG trade officials told The Times the flow of information from member states about the textiles industry is somewhat irregular and is preventing the Commission from taking action.

According to the officials, Malta, Cyprus, Estonia and Ireland have still not made their data available. The United Kingdom has forwarded data to the Commission which is not yet suitable for use and Belgian and Luxembourg have not made their data available for last month.

This information was given following the publication by the Commission of new guidelines setting out conditions for triggering action against "massive surges" of Chinese textiles. The Commission has set thresholds, timetables and the conditions for "safeguard" measures to protect the EU textile industry from China.

Publishing the new guidelines, European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said that China, and its dramatic potential to increase exports, has become a key concern for a number of EU member states and European textiles producers.

"The guidelines recognise the legitimate concerns of member state governments and textiles sector, while allowing China to benefit from the lifting of quotas," he said.

The scrapping of World Trade Organisation textile quotas on January 1 has opened Europe's doors to cheap textiles from an industrially rampant China. France, Italy, Spain and the Czech Republic have raised fears that China's share of Europe's textile market, currently standing at 20 per cent, could soar to 50 per cent or beyond.