EU officials and lawmakers have raised serious concerns over a possible upsurge in Chinese textile exports after the end of quotas on clothing in January.

Speaking at the European Parliament, EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson said: “I see the textiles problem as emblematic of the broader problem that we face in China.”

The present quota was agreed in 2005, following an influx of imports from China that manufacturers in Europe said was damaging to their business.

“We expect the same sort of equal opportunity and fair treatment in China’s market that the Chinese producers receive in ours,” said Mandelson.

This issue has worn trade relations with China, with many in Europe accusing the country of keeping down the value of its currency to block access by the market to EU goods.

The EU ran a trade deficit of €128 billion (£91.47 billion) with China last year. According to EU statistics, this is likely to balloon to €170 billion (121.49 billion) in 2007.