Official: Japan is All Wet on TowelsDomestic towel businesses are calling on their Japanese counterparts to stop seeking government curbs on Chinese towel imports, an industry leader said.Qian Changyong, president of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles, warned that any rash action is unwise and will hamper trade relations between the two countries. His warning followed a request from Japanese towel manufacturers for government-imposed curbs on Chinese imports. The Japanese Towel Industry Association said last week it planned to file a formal request with the government at the end of February to issue an emergency order imposing quotas on cheap Chinese textile imports. The quotas, which are allowed by the World Trade Organization as a temporary safeguard, last no more than three years. Qian suggested the Japanese textile industry not rely on a temporary government policy but seek a lasting solution. "Why don't the Japanese counterparts use their advanced technology to develop high-tech textile products instead of fearing the Chinese£¿" Qian said. Cui Zhengquan, president of Lantai Towel Co Ltd based in Jiangsu Province, said Chinese towels are popular in Japan. "Our high-quality, low-cost towels are welcomed by both textile importers and consumers in Japan," Cui said. The quotas, if implemented, will harm the interest of Japanese consumers and run counter to the trend of world trade, Cui added. Towel imports from China reached 50,441 tons in 1999, representing more than 80 per cent of Japan's total towel imports. China is Japan's largest textile exporter. In the first 10 months of last year, China exported US$10.9 billion worth of textiles and garments to Japan, up 33.6 per cent from the same period of 1999. Qian said rising exports of Chinese textile products is a natural result of an improved Japanese economy and a robust Chinese textile industry. This is not the first recent attempt by the Japanese Textile Federation and others to get the government to limit Chinese textile imports. The Japanese trade group said on December 19 that several Japanese textile industry groups planned to ask the Japanese Government around January 20 to restrict the influx of Chinese textile products. "Until now, they didn't issue the formal request after negotiation between related government departments and industrial associations," Qian said. |
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