In what will be the first of many disputes, a mainland business association in Wenzhou has sent a letter of protest to Turkey over a threat to impose quotas on its exports of spectacles, the first such trade row since China joined the World Trade Organisation on December 11.
On the advice of the China Light Industry and Crafts Import and Export Association, the Wenzhou Spectacle Makers Association on Thursday sent a letter of protest to the Turkish Government, the Beijing Times yesterday reported.
The association protested against 'safeguard measures' and the possible imposition of non-tariff barriers against Chinese spectacle exports, saying Turkey should not have done this alone.
Earlier this year, the Turkish Government acted on a demand from its domestic spectacle manufacturers who protested that a flood of cheap spectacles from China was hurting them and asked for protection.
In response, a Turkish government committee ruled that all spectacle exporters to Turkey must within 45 days apply for a 'safeguard inspection certificate' from the import division of its Foreign Trade Board and provide the necessary documents to its embassy in the exporting country.
Turkey reserves the right to impose a quota and put high tariffs on exports above the quota.
