China willing to solve textile disputes appropriately: minister

China's Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai (L) holds a press conference in Jeju island, South Korean southmost resort island, June 3, 2005.

China is willing to solve textile disputes with the United States and the European Union (EU) appropriately and reasonably within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), said Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai Friday in Jeju Island, South Korea.

The restrictions on Chinese textiles are protectionism that is against free trade principles advocated by the WTO, the Doha Development Agenda as well as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, Bo told a press conference at the end of an APEC trade ministers meeting.

Washington and Brussels decided recently to impose restrictions on seven and two kinds of Chinese textile products respectively.

In response, China announced Monday that it would lift, as from June 1, export tariffs on 81 categories of textile products that it previously imposed to curb exports of Chinese textile products.

On Jan. 1, 2005, when the global textile quotas were eliminated according to WTO rules, China voluntarily imposed export tariffs on 148 categories of textile products in order to limit export surge. On May 20, China again decided to raise export tariffs on 74 categories of textile products.

"As a responsible nation in international trade, the Chinese government had held meetings to discuss measures to make steady flow of Chinese textiles to the US and EU markets," said Bo.

China has adopted 10 additional measures beyond its WTO commitments to slow down the increasing pace of the textile products, Bo said.

"We cannot understand why the US and the EU still decided to impose quantitative restrictions on Chinese textiles," Bo said.

He also said the restrictions will hit Chinese textile enterprises seriously.

"Every textile product that the United States and the EU have restricted involves at least 2,000-6,000 Chinese companies and thousands of people," said Bo.

The Chinese official attributed the current friction to the fact that some countries did not make use of the 10-year transitional period to adjust the structure of their industries and phase out their quota systems.

"It's unfair to attribute the surge of Chinese textile exports, " Bo said.

The minister noted that enjoying the integration of textile trade in the global market is the outcome of China's balanced rights and obligations in its accession to the WTO.

"We got the right after we promised to open services, trade and agriculture markets to the world," Bo said.

The minister confirmed he held a breakfast meeting with Robert Portman, US trade representative, on Friday and exchanged views over the textile dispute.

He flied back to Beijing Friday afternoon, where he is to hold talks with visiting US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.

Source: Xinhua