China ends taxes on textile exports, citing Western safeguards

China ends taxes on textile exports, citing Western safeguards    China said it plans to terminate self-imposed tariffs on textile exports in retaliation for safeguard quotas imposed by the United States and the European Union.
   Bo Xilai, China's commerce minister, said the Western safeguards enacted recently were 'hasty' and lacked a 'scientific basis.'    As a consequence, China will cancel export tariffs on 81 apparel and textile products, effective June 1.
   At this time, China will not take its complaints about the safeguards to the World Trade Organization (WTO), although that option remains open.
   U.S. and European textile manufacturers are to blame for failing to prepare for the lifting of global trade quotas on textile and apparel products last Jan. 1, Bo said in a statement.
   'With the integration of textile products, it is natural that we should enjoy this right' to export goods, Bo explained. He added that China will soon discuss the recent American safeguards with Carlos Gutierrez, the new U.S. secretary of commerce.