EU dropping quotas on Chinese clothes

BRUSSELS, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The European Union is easing restrictions on Chinese-made clothes at year's end despite warnings of a possible repeat of dumping by China.

The EU is switching from strict import restrictions to a joint monitoring agreement that covers most garments imported from China, the EU Observer reported Thursday.

The joint agreement covers eight to 10 categories of clothing from T-shirts to trousers and bras. The EU, which had a trade deficit of $184 billion with China in 2006, adopted tough import quotas in 2005 to limit the influx of cheaper Chinese-made clothing into Europe.