BRUSSELS, April 19: China warned the European Union (EU) bluntly on Tuesday that slapping limits on Chinese textile imports could harm relations between Brussels and Beijing. The warning came as the 25-country bloc mulls how to respond to a surge in cheap Chinese imports since the January 1 end of an international quota system, and amid protests from Europe’s textile industry that they need protection.

“We invite our European partner to be very careful in the use of the safeguard clauses,” a representative of the Chinese embassy to the EU said, referring to trade measures the EU could use.

“Don’t hurt our bilateral Chinese-European relations with a unilateral action,” embassy commercial advisor Youhou Liu told a hearing at the European Parliament.

The EU’s executive commission expects to decide on April 25 whether or not to launch an investigation into booming Chinese textile imports, the first step towards applying so-called safeguards allowed under WTO rules.

The commission is facing growing pressure from the European textile industry to slap limits on cheap Chinese textile imports.

But with billions of dollars in trade at stake, China reacted furiously earlier this month to the mere suggestion that Brussels could consider slapping limits on Chinese textile imports.

Liu offered a more conciliatory tone Tuesday saying: “We are ready to listen to you, to step up our dialogue with the European Commission”.—AFP