Bulgaria and Romania will join the family of European Union on January 1, 2007, making the union to have 27 country members in total. Consequently, the quota imposed by the EU on ten categories of Chinese textile and apparel products will also be implemented in the two new members.
The quotas has been imposed since June, 2005, in accordance to an agreement reached by China and the EU. In the latest announcement, the union stated that it would increase the quota of some of the categories. Details were not yet given.
When deciding the amount of quotas to be increased, it is said that the European Commission will take into account the tradings between the new EU members with China over the past few years. A mild increase is the most likely result.
Effective from January 1, 2007, import permits should be presented with the Chinese exports to Bulgaria and Romania, same as other EU members.