Allister demands more action on textiles
07 July 2005
Speaking in the European Parliament today in a debate on the state of Europe's textile industry and the devastation of it by cheap foreign imports, DUP MEP Jim Allister said:-
"Northern Ireland once boasted a vibrant and large textile industry. Today, it is a mere shadow of its former self with thousands of jobs having been lost. Since trade policy foolishly has been handed over to the exclusive competence of the EU, Member States, in reality, are powerless in the face of cheap imports ravaging their textile industries. The EU has failed the textile industry.
The abolition of import quotas on 1st January 2005 has caused in the UK and elsewhere soaring imports, especially from China. Whereas we are denied the protection of import quotas, China's state-owned factories benefit from export subsidies, state aid and even free electricity and its artificially under-valued currency. Little wonder we cannot compete.
Commissioner Mandelson's decision to impose anti-dumping duties on certain synthetic fabrics is welcome, as far as it goes, but often such fabrics are further processed in China to give added value, for example being made into roller blinds, and thus can still be dumped in the EU at ridiculous prices. This loophole must be closed. Generally, the Commission needs to be much more robust with China than hitherto."
