The European Union's trade chief wants to hold talks soon with China on soaring clothing imports, including sweater and trouser shipments that hit quota ceilings for 2005 just weeks after being set.
Volumes of Chinese clothing imports surged this year after the end of a long-standing quota system, causing concern to EU member countries that have textile industries.
However, the setting of new quotas has alarmed retailers, who say they risk shortages in the busy autumn-winter season.
On Monday, imports of trousers from China reached the limit agreed by the two sides for the whole year. Sweater imports hit their 2005 ceiling in late July.
European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said he would be in touch with China's trade minister this week.
"We will manage the situation with everyone's interest in mind. Officials will be working on this throughout August," Mandelson said in a statement.
He said the problem had been caused by retailers trying to beat the restrictions by making massive shipments of sweaters and trousers in advance of the new quotas.
The surge in Chinese clothing imports after the abolition of the old quota system on January 1 has heightened the concern of France and Italy about the fate of their own textile industries.
The EU and China agreed in June to slow the growth of Chinese exports with the new quotas but the limits they set for 2005 have already been reached for sweaters and trousers.
Last week, EU member states agreed to raise the ceiling for sweaters to unblock goods which retailers had already bought but which could not enter the 25-nation bloc.
Diplomatic sources have said member states agreed to use some of next year's quota to resolve the problem. China has yet to say whether it agrees with the proposal.
Mandelson said: "Final decisions including some flexibility on the future management of the quotas will not be taken until early September and will be resolved in agreement with the Chinese authorities. However...we hope that in the meantime we will be able to agree on some flexibility for pullovers."
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