"European Union must end this farcical textile situation" says Norman Lamb

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 25th Aug 2005

Commenting on the talks between Chinese and EU negotiators regarding textile imports in his role as Liberal Democrat Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary, Norman Lamb said:

"The current situation with enormous stockpiles of textiles sitting in warehouses is utterly ludicrous. Retailers ordered goods under the impression they were operating in a free trade market place, only to be told quotas have been re-instated without any consultation or discussion."

"The timing of these quotas suggests that it was a result of French pressure in the run up to the EU Constitution Referendum in June. It is totally unfair that British retailers should end up paying for the consequences of internal French politics."

""The EU must now act quickly to address this farcical situation. If it remains unresolved it could have serious impact on British retailers who will be unable to stock their shelves in time for Christmas. An urgent resolution must be agreed even if it only involves buying time by bringing forward next year's quotas."

Norman Lamb has written to Alan Johnson and to Peter Mandelson to clarify why quotas were re-established in this way, and to ensure the same situation does not arise again.