The "first signal" for the European Union (EU) member states to approve the EU-China textile deal was "positive," European Commission (EC) spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen said on Tuesday.

"The agreement with China is still subject to approval, (and) the first signal we have received from the (EU) member states appears to be positive" Hansen told an EC press conference.

On Monday, China's Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai and EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson signed an agreement to release all of the 80 million Chinese garments blocked at the EU ports. But the deal needs the nod of approval from all EU member states.

"The member states must have proper time to study and observe the agreement, and we expect to be able to complete the procedures quickly. Early next week we can put it into effect," she said.

According to Hansen, the so-called 133 committee met Monday afternoon to make its initial assessment of the deal with China and the committee would meet Tuesday afternoon again to "formalize the member states' positions."

Hansen said the textile commission would examine the draft regulations and then "the legal instrument would give legal effect to the deal provided of course the member states agree."

"With the end of the procedures, hopefully the (EU) member states would give the final green light to the agreement," she said.

Source: Xinhua