Second day of Chinese-European “textile” talks

Chinese and European officials met for the second day of “textile” negotiations Friday. The purpose of the talks is the creation of on textile quotas.

There was no immediate word of any progress in the first day of talks Thursday.

The talks Thursday were "constructive and friendly," said Michael Jennings, a spokesman for the European Union office in Beijing. Jennings said he had no details, according to Business Week.

A statement from China's Ministry of Commerce said that during the meeting Thursday, Beijing "expressed its concern" over textile products being blocked at EU customs.

As Pravda.ru reported earlier, negotiators are exploring solutions such as transferring quotas that have not been filled to more popular lines, "borrowing" from next year's quotas or allowing importers to bring in goods ordered before the June 10 curbs.

The EU spokesman in Beijing said European negotiators hoped the "constructive and friendly" atmosphere they described on Thursday would continue. China's Commerce Ministry has not commented on the talks.

Textiles have been a source of international trade friction this year following the Jan. 1 expiration of a long-standing global pact limiting textile trade.