BRUSSELS, Sept 7: European Union member states gave their green light on Wednesday to a deal to release millions of cheap Chinese clothes blocked at European ports as early as next week, officials said.

Delegations from the 25 EU governments reached the agreement here two days after EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson had struck the deal to resolve an embarrassing standoff which has seriously strained ties with Beijing.

“We would hope that if everything goes smoothly ... that by the middle of next week the goods that are currently blocked in customs can be unblocked,” said a spokesman for the EC.

Millions of Chinese items, including sweaters (pullovers), trousers, blouses, T-shirts, bras and tonnes of flax yarn, are impounded at European ports because they exceed import quotas agreed by both sides in June.

The political accord, struck by ambassadors from EU member on Wednesday, opened the way for experts to work on a legal document that will allow the blocked clothes to be released by customs. Mandelson immediately praised the accord.

“I am very pleased that member states have approved the agreement with China and the Commission’s proposal for unblocking textile imports from China,” he said in a statement from India, where he was taking part in an EU-India summit.

“This solidarity now allows the Commission to put in place the legal instrument which should allow the member states to begin unblocking goods next week,” he added.—AFP