08-21-2007, 10:06 PM
<b>China, West row in the offing over toys and clothing</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A major diplomatic row between China and the West is in the offing, worse than the bitter stand-off last year between Beijing and Brussels over suspension of imports of shoes, underwear and shirts, among other things, made there.
Already piqued over the withdrawal of 18 million Chinese made toys worldwide by the US toy giant Mattel and taking off the shelves of children jewellry in Britain, the Chinese authorities have retorted that the recalls and complaints are motivated by trade protectionism rather than safety.
This has been promptly refuted by EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson, who described the allegation as âtotally falseâ. But the row is set to cause intense heat as the alerts could cost Chinese loss of billions.
The Chinese anger has boiled over after New Zealand authorities conveyed to the trading standard officials in Britain that cheap clothes made in China have been found to contain high levels of a potentially dangerous chemical.
......
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Already piqued over the withdrawal of 18 million Chinese made toys worldwide by the US toy giant Mattel and taking off the shelves of children jewellry in Britain, the Chinese authorities have retorted that the recalls and complaints are motivated by trade protectionism rather than safety.
This has been promptly refuted by EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson, who described the allegation as âtotally falseâ. But the row is set to cause intense heat as the alerts could cost Chinese loss of billions.
The Chinese anger has boiled over after New Zealand authorities conveyed to the trading standard officials in Britain that cheap clothes made in China have been found to contain high levels of a potentially dangerous chemical.
......
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->