(Shenzhen Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-12 14:43

Mexican president Felipe Calderon said his government is in talks with China to reach a settlement over tariffs on Chinese textiles and other products currently as high as 1,000 percent.

The negotiations were disclosed by Calderon yesterday at a gathering of textile industry executives in Mexico City. In December, Mexico announced a plan to keep duties on Chinese textiles, toys and shoes while it reviews the imports for possible unfair trade practices. The tariffs, in place since 1993, don’t meet World Trade Organization rules. Mexico said last year that it is allowed to keep the import duties while it completes the review. An agreement that keeps some duties on Chinese imports would boost the industry and save jobs, said Rafael Zaga, former president of Mexico’s National Chamber of the Textile Industry, at the same event.