US/EU to Lift Textile/Clothing Quota Restrictions on China

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 07, 2001

US/EU to Lift Textile/Clothing Quota Restrictions on China

According to provisions of WTO textile/clothing agreements and protocol on China's WTO entry, after acquiring its full WTO membership China will enjoy complete "integrated" textile/clothing trade treatment. WTO countries and regions including the US, EU, Canada and Turkey with quota restrictions imposed will lift all their textile/clothing quota restrictions on China.

In its recent circular on US/EU lifting quota restrictions on China's textile/clothing exports, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation specially enumerated the varieties and specific items debarred and managerial measures outdated and those to be used.

It is learned that from December 11 this year EU will lift its quota restrictions on China's textile/clothing exports along with other debarred export varieties listed in its first stage and second stage integrated inventories to other related world supervision institutions. Starting from January 1, 2002, the US and Turkey both will also lift their quota restrictions on China's exports in their first and second stage integrated inventories to other related world supervision institutions. On the part of the US, EU, Canada and Turkey, quota restrictions will also be removed on China's exports in their third stage inventories to other WTO textile/clothing supervision institutions. Of these, the US and Canada will lift their quota restrictions on HS-categorized products on top of quota restrictions on some HS-coded products from China.

From the day scrapping quota restrictions, free clearance will be provided by all Customs of import/export countries for all textile/clothing shipments irrespective of quota restrictions ever enforced or debarred.

Starting from January 1, 2002, the US will practice no licensing and related administrative organs will stop issuance of licensing on non-quota-administered textiles/clothing exports from China since no restrictions imposed.

EU and Turkey formerly imposed no quota restrictions on some textile/clothing exports from China as listed in their first, second and third stage "integrated" product inventories. But when made exports documents authenticating their producers and localities are needed and past restrictions have to be removed in two batches starting December 11 this year and January 1, 2002.

By People's Daily Online

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