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EU trade chief talks of curbs on China's exports (China)
ft ^

Posted on 02/23/2005 7:26:59 PM PST by maui_hawaii

Peter Mandelson, the European Union trade commissioner, on Wednesday demanded greater curbs on Chinese exports of textiles and clothing following the removal of trade-restricting quotas earlier this year.

Speaking before his first visit to China since taking office, Mr Mandelson said: “China must trade freely and fairly. If there is a perception that China is reaping the benefits of free trade without meeting the standards of fair trade, there will be a negative response in Europe and elsewhere.”

He said the growth of Chinese textiles exports was a particular worry: “I want to discuss with the Chinese government curbs that they could make to moderate export growth. In December they announced measures [to limit that growth]. It is too early to say definitely what those policies have achieved, but the signs so far are that they are too modest.”

Mr Mandelson also raised the possibility of using the “special safeguard mechanism” to put a brake on Chinese textiles imports into Europe, which have risen sharply as quotas have been phased out over recent years.

Negotiated during China's accession process to the World Trade Organisation, this mechanism allows countries unilaterally to restrict textile imports from China. It has never been used by the EU, and any move to apply the mechanism would be viewed with hostility by Beijing.

“It is quite possible that Europe will use special safeguards it is quite possible, but not certain,” Mr Mandelson said.

Coupled with forceful language on China's lack of protection for intellectual property rights and the need for a bigger Chinese contribution to WTO trade talks, Mr Mandelson's remarks suggest he intends to take a tough line in Beijing.

Brussels has in the past been careful to distance itself from the more aggressive stance adopted by some US lawmakers and trade officials, who have been more openly critical of China's trade policies.

But in a sign that the Commission is moving towards a more confrontational position, Mr Mandelson insisted on Wednesday that China would not be granted any reprieve in opening up its markets and abiding by international trade rules.

He said: “There is a view in China that it has already paid heavily to enter the WTO. But WTO membership is not the end of the reform path but just the end of the beginning. China has to work harder to ensure that its own markets are open to international competitionon fair and transparentterms.”

The commissioner cited intellectual property rights as another area of concern.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: china; eu; frankenworms; globalism; politicsofcash; trade; weaselslieanyway
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1 posted on 02/23/2005 7:27:01 PM PST by maui_hawaii
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To: maui_hawaii
"The commissioner cited intellectual property rights as another area of concern."

Good luck, commissioner. They don't exist there, despite whatever 'laws' might be in place.

2 posted on 02/23/2005 7:29:04 PM PST by Tench_Coxe
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To: maui_hawaii

European unions are much stronger than American unions. They are powerful enough to impose protectionist, job-preservation measures.

There will be no European Wal-Mart.


3 posted on 02/23/2005 7:30:16 PM PST by Sam the Sham
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To: maui_hawaii

LOL! I'm very sure China is worried that the crapwasels might actually do something to them.

Monty Python at it's best.


4 posted on 02/23/2005 7:31:55 PM PST by bill1952 ("All that we do is done with an eye towards something else.")
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To: Sam the Sham
Which will also succeed in destroying any competitiveness that they have left, and incidentally raise the level of unemployment to undreamed of heights...
5 posted on 02/23/2005 7:35:51 PM PST by bill1952 ("All that we do is done with an eye towards something else.")
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To: bill1952

Don't underestimate them.


6 posted on 02/23/2005 7:39:55 PM PST by maui_hawaii
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To: maui_hawaii

Who?


7 posted on 02/23/2005 7:40:58 PM PST by bill1952 ("All that we do is done with an eye towards something else.")
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To: bill1952

The Europeans ability and willingness to seek punitive measures against Chinese imports into the EU.


8 posted on 02/23/2005 7:42:31 PM PST by maui_hawaii
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: maui_hawaii

Pah! The Chinese barely pretend to listen to us, and they aren't going to listen to the EU.

Punitive measures work both ways. China is not without it's own measures, and China knows that very well.

This is bluster.


10 posted on 02/23/2005 7:45:54 PM PST by bill1952 ("All that we do is done with an eye towards something else.")
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To: bill1952
I don't agree that this is a bluster...
11 posted on 02/23/2005 7:49:46 PM PST by maui_hawaii
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To: maui_hawaii

Well then, we will see, but don't hold your breath waiting for those big punitive measures to appear from the EU.


12 posted on 02/23/2005 7:52:05 PM PST by bill1952 ("All that we do is done with an eye towards something else.")
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To: bill1952

China is going to get increasing pressure to change the way they operate.


13 posted on 02/23/2005 7:59:42 PM PST by maui_hawaii
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To: maui_hawaii

as the dollar falls, the chinese peg makes their products even cheaper in europe. if Europe and other nations would tariff chinese imports to force them to drop the peg, I am all for it. the US doesn't have the guts to do it, maybe someone else does.


14 posted on 02/23/2005 8:01:56 PM PST by oceanview
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To: oceanview

What actually will most likely end up happening is China is going to get major heat until they open up and comply with real free market economics and drop the multitudes of barriers foreigners face.


15 posted on 02/23/2005 8:03:34 PM PST by maui_hawaii
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To: oceanview
Tariffs don't work, and they won't change anything except to lower the standard of living in EU land.

The EU can't force China to do anything.
Neither can we.

When China decides that it is their best interests to change something then they will, but if anyone here believes that sanctions are the way to change China, then they are seriously misreading the Chinese.
16 posted on 02/23/2005 8:08:59 PM PST by bill1952 ("All that we do is done with an eye towards something else.")
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To: maui_hawaii

even japan hasn't removed such barriers - but at least their currency floats so their goods are priced in 1st world dollars, and so are their wages (actually, much higher then US wages) and standards of living.

for now, give me a 40% revaluation of the Yuan for starters, and I'll be happy. Because a 40% revalue will force the "china centric" approach of the US tech industry to be reassessed quickly - they will refocus on expanding in the US, and we can actually see some decent job and wage numbers as part of our economic recovery here, instead of exporting 9% GDP growth to china.


17 posted on 02/23/2005 8:10:07 PM PST by oceanview
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To: bill1952

nonsense. tariffs do work. tariffs saved (and are saving) the US light truck industry from devastation. Its one reason why Toyota and Nissan are building light truck plants all over the US.

the chinese currency peg has to go - you can't have free trade with a nation that manitans an artificial currency peg.


18 posted on 02/23/2005 8:12:16 PM PST by oceanview
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To: oceanview
Japan's heyday and China's heyday are two different times. We are in the information age...the world is much closer and people are more aware of things....

China won't get away with as much as Japan did.

19 posted on 02/23/2005 8:13:11 PM PST by maui_hawaii
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To: Sam the Sham

(There will be no European Wal-Mart.)

There already is one. It's French retail giant Carrefour.


20 posted on 02/23/2005 8:19:41 PM PST by winner3000
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