China fears that the US will ‘inevitably’ restrict its textile exports, despite the recent two-way trade deal, according to a Chinese Ministry of Commerce statement cited by Reuters.

The Ministry lamented the fact that the US can still impose limitations on its exports by way of a clause China agreed to when it joined the World Trade Organization.

The statement said that China does not have access to the free trade it should be permitted as a member of the WTO, despite some recent flexibility on the US side of negotiations which is expected to help bring a level of predictability and better trade relations.

The Ministry also said that the pact is anticipated to boost the share of Chinese textile goods in the US to 19.8% by 2008 from 6.7% in 2004.

An unidentified offficial said the country's market share there is expected to edge up to 15% in 2006 and to 17.1% in 2007.