【新編劍橋商務英語初級】4.1 關(guān)于進口管制的觀點 I

The crisis over clothing imports is still hitting the headlines, and we spoke to some of the people involved. In Portugal, Joao da Silva owns a small factory in Aveiro. Look, I can't see any problem with these import controls. The European Union should protect European industry - people like me and my factory workers. We can't produce clothing at the prices the Chinese charge. I employ a small number of people, it's true, but they depend on me. Where else could they work around here? My message to Mr Mandelson is this: stop the Chinese imports, support European producers. But it's a different message from the retail clothing chain Tulip. Listen to what Dagmar Rasmussen has to say. We in the retail trade really think we should import garments from China, or from Malaysia, or from any country that can supply us at a good price. Why should the European Union tell us where and how to do business? We are not at all happy with this situation. Our shops could be almost completely empty next week. What are we going to say to our customers? The European Trade Commissioner should act at once, and permit the clothes to leave the warehouses and to stock our shops. Really, this can't go on!