US, China to hold textile talks

US and mainland officials will hold textile trade talks next week in San Francisco, but the Bush administration has not decided whether to formally seek a comprehensive textile trade deal with Beijing, the Standard of Hong Kong reported, citing the US Trade Representative's office. The talks are the latest in a series of ''consultations'' required under world trade rules after the US in May imposed emergency import curbs on billions of dollars of clothing from China, John Stubbs, a spokesman for the office, reportedly said. They are also the first face-to-face meetings between US and mainland textile trade officials since Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said last week Washington could seek a comprehensive textile trade agreement with Beijing.