China condemned the move by the US to limit the increases of three categories of surging Chinese apparel imports to 7.5% a year, with China's Ministry of Commerce saying the restrictions set a "very bad precedent". It promised to take action within the WTO, according to media reports. First quarter Chinese textile shipment into the US grew 54% in value over a year ago, according to US Commerce Department data, while China's trade groups, citing customs data, said first quarter gains totaled 19% from a year earlier.