The United States unilaterally decided recently to cut the import quota of China's textile products, totaling about US$9 million, on the allegation that China's mainland companies have made illegal transshipment, according to the spokesman.

The United States made the decision without providing clear evidence, which seriously violated the Sino-US agreement on textile products, said the spokesman.

The spokesman said the Chinese government has always carried out the provisions of the bilateral agreement. China maintains that the two sides should develop bilateral trade on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, and trade disputes should be handled in a practical, reconciliatory and cooperative spirit.

The US government's action runs counter to the bilateral agreement on textile products, and therefore is unacceptable to the Chinese government, said the spokesman.

"We strongly demand that the US government reconsider its decision to reduce the quota, thus averting possible damage to China-US trade relations because of the textile transshipment issue," said the spokesman. "The Chinese government reserves the right to take further actions if the US government insists on its decision."

(Xinhua 12/13/2000)