KEY POINTS:
The European Union's trade chief has warned China not to use recalls of defective Chinese goods as a pretext for retaliatory trade restrictions.
"I will give firm backing to European companies having to reject goods that are dangerous to consumers, including young children," EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said yesterday. "This is not a question of trade but of health.
"If some in China want to create the pretext for retaliatory action, the EU will contest this in the strongest terms."
China faces growing pressure from its trading partners after scares ranging from poisonous pet-food ingredients and toxic fish to dangerous toys and contaminated toothpaste.
Last year, almost half the 924 defective products reported by the EU's consumer protection system came from China.
On Sunday, the head of China's quality watchdog described the questions over the quality of Chinese goods as a "cold wind" that was politically motivated, unfair, biased and poisoned by jealousy.
Li Changjiang said his department was doing everything possible to check quality and probe substandard goods, especially following the huge toy recall by Mattel.
The European Union's consumer protection commissioner warned China last month the EU would take measures against Chinese exports if China did not act against makers of dangerous goods.
- Reuters
