The European Union trade chief urged member states today to approve a deal he has struck with China to allow in over 80 million Chinese clothing imports.
"I am confident because the initial discussions have indicated that member states are giving a warm welcome [to the agreement with China]," EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson told BBC Radio.
"Now, that may not be universal but I hope that they will consider on its merits what I've agreed, partly because it's good for Europe and good for China . . . but also because there's no alternative to what I'm proposing."
Brussels and Beijing agreed yesterday to share the burden of unblocking Chinese garments that have piled up at European borders since they hit quota levels agreed in June.
Under the deal struck by Mr Mandelson in Beijing, half the excess goods will be deducted from China's quota for exports to the EU in 2006, and the rest will be added to its 2005 quota.
The agreement must be approved by the European Union's member states by a qualified majority. They were due to meet today ahead of a vote expected tomorrow.
EU countries with strong textile industries of their own, such as France, Italy and Spain, had baulked at the prospect of letting China send more goods to Europe than set in June without agreeing to lower its export quotas for next year.
But a source close to the talks said he expected France would not oppose yesterday's agreement.