The recent Sino-US agreement on textile trade takes into account the interest of other developing countries, an official with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on its website.

On US textile market, Chinese products now account for 20 percent, while products made by US firms account for about 5 percent. A large part of the remainders are produced by developing countries, including Mexico and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members, said the official, adding, if China's textile export to the United States grows rapidly, it will surely affect US textile import from other developing countries.

In the first nine months of this year, the US textile import grew 8 percent year on year. Its import from China went up 52 percent, from ASEAN, up 3 percent, while import from Mexico and Caribbean countries dropped by 6 percent and 1 percent respectively.

China and the United States signed a three-year deal on the trade on Nov. 8, imposing quotas on Chinese textile products but clearing a major obstacle to bilateral trade.

As part of the agreement, the United States committed to granting customs clearance to all Chinese textile products currently blocked at the American ports. In the meantime, the US also agreed to refrain from limits on textile products not covered by the agreement.

A total of 21 types of clothing and textiles had been placed under the import restrictions, including cotton trousers.

Source: Xinhua