EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson met with European textile importers on July 20, and will meet with representatives of the European textile producers association Euratex on July 23, to discuss the import growth caps on textile exports from China, agreed by the EU and China in 2005, which will expire on December 31.

The meetings will allow representatives to express views on the transition to free trade with China for textiles and clothing.

The current EU-China agreement imposes no restrictions on imports for 2008 but commits both sides to ensuring a smooth transition when the final import restrictions expire at the end of 2007.