[BBC Monitoring International Reports]

BBC Monitoring International Reports via NewsEdge Corporation :

Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)

Beijing , 19 July: China strongly opposes the intention of the United States for imposing limits on the categories of the imported Chinese curtains, said Chong Quan, press spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, here Tuesday [19 July].

The US Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), an inter-agency committee overseen by the US Commerce Department, accepted the application made by some US textile industry communities on imposing limits on imported Chinese curtains on 14 July.

This is another new application accepted by the CITA this year following its imposing limits on Chinese cotton and knitting shirts, said Chong.

"There is obviously not sufficient evidence for the US textile communities to apply for imposing limits on Chinese textile, and the US government's acceptance of the application is against the relevant rules of the World Trade Organization," he said.

Chong said the Chinese government has always endeavoured to settle the trade problems with the US through consultations and cooperation. During the 16th Joint Committee on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), China and the US held the positive and beneficial discussion on relevant issues, and the US side has been committed to cautiously adopting limits measures to Chinese textile products, he said.

"We hope the US to honour its commitment, respect the right and interests of China on textile trade integration, and properly handle the textile issue between the two countries in view of the general situation of bilateral trade," Chong said.

For the unreasonable measures adopted by the US , Chong said, "the Chinese government retains the right to make further comment and take countermeasures within the framework of WTO".

Sources said the US textile communities applied for imposing limits on imported Chinese curtains on 22 June, and the CITA accepted the application on 14 July. The CITA will make decision in mid-October.

Sources also said the US has not publicized the specific items of the products, thus the sum of money involved in can not be estimated at present.

Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing , in English 1334 gmt 19 Jul 05

BBC Monitoring

BBC Monitoring International Reports -- 07/20/05

2005 BBC Monitoring/ BBC .Source: Financial Times Information Limited.