Date of release : 10-05-2005

Policy area : Competitiveness (Internal market, Industry and Research) Competitiveness (Internal market, Industry and Research)

Event : Competitiveness Council

At the request of several Member States, Jeannot Krecké, Chairman of the "Competitiveness" Council, decided to place an item on the agenda of the meeting of 10 May 2005 regarding the situation which has arisen in the textile sector through a surge in Chinese imports.

On this subject, the Council heard Commissioner Verheugen, who informed the Ministers of the measures taken by the Commission in this context. The European Commission launched investigations into Chinese exports to the European Union in nine categories of textile products.

In all these categories, import volumes for Chinese textiles have risen above the ‘alert levels’ defined by the guidelines published by the Commission.

The Commission will now conduct a rapid investigation to determine if market disruption has occurred and whether special safeguard measures should be imposed.