European retailers criticize EU

On Tuesday European retailers accused the EU of giving leading European textile-producing countries special incentives in order to win them over in the negotiations with China over the unblocking of impounded Chinese garments at European borders. According to a media report, the Foreign Trade Association leads the accusations. It alleges that the EU went back on its agreement to allow Chinese garments that had already been paid for by retailers into Europe .

The Foreign Trade Association includes Adidas AG, Carrefoure, Metro and other leading retailers across Europe . The EU supposedly favoured majore textile producing member states France and Italy by continuing to control the import of garments into Europe . The trade association's legal counsel has said: "Our member are losing out on this." In the meantime, the EU is optimistic that a compromise between China and the EU will be reached with regards to the quota system.