The growth rate of China's textiles and apparel exports to the European Union and the United States dropped 45 and 70 percentage points respectively year on year in the first six months, according to a report prepared by the China National Textile Industry Council (CNTIC).

 

Information provided about the report did not provide details on the dollar value of the exports to the two markets.

 

Last year, China reached agreements with both the European Union (EU) and the United States to limit the growth of its textile exports.

 

The Sino-US deal allowed China's exports of 21 clothing and textile categories to the United States to grow at 10 to 15 percent in 2006, 12.5 to 16 percent in 2007 and 15 to 17 percent in 2008.

 

According to the Sino-EU agreement, China's export growth of 10 categories of textile products to the EU will be limited to between 8 and 12.5 percent annually from 2005 to 2007.

 

China's exports of restricted textile products to the United States and the EU decreased 31.71 percent and 29.69 percent year on year in the first half of the year, according to the CNTIC report.

 

The report showed China's textile exports to other countries and regions excluding the EU and the United States rose 24.49 percent, reaching a value of US$64.03 billion.

 

The CNTIC indicated that the EU and US restrictions on China's textiles and apparel were the main reasons for the decline in the growth of textile exports.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2006)