June 17, 2005 - Evening news: Euro MEP concerned
by China accord
Cambridgeshire Euro-MEP Robert Sturdy has expressed fears that Britain's new European Commission Peter Mandelson is not representing the UK's interests in Brussels.
Mr Sturdy, the Conservative Spokesperson on International
Trade in the European Parliament, is worried that new curbs on Chinese textile
exports to Europe could hit British firms.
He has expressed concern that the European Commissioner
for Trade, Peter Mandelson, is "going native" following news he has negotiated curbs on Chinese textile exports.
His comments come after Mr Mandelson's appearance before
the International Trade Committee of the European Parliament in which he
defended is decision to reach an accord with China that Mr Sturdy says will
damage UK industry.
Mr Sturdy said "I am concerned that Commissioner Mandelson is increasingly going native. The textile dispute has shown him to be putting the concerns of some Member States above the pursuit of free trade.
"The accord he has reached with China is bad news for the UK, as many of our firms that specialise in finishing and importing textiles for onward sale will be adversely affected".
