Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson today announced that he has decided to ask the European Commission to authorise him to launch investigations into nine categories of Chinese textile exports to the EU. This decision was made in the light of a sharp surge in imports from China during the first quarter of 2005. In all these categories, import volumes for Chinese textiles have risen above the ‘alert levels’ defined by the guidelines published by the commission on 6 April. The Commission will now conduct a rapid investigation (maximum two months) to determine if market disruption has occurred and whether the EU should impose special safeguard measures. In parallel, it will launch immediate consultations with China in an attempt to find a satisfactory solution.