The Chinese government currently bans the import of second hand clothing into the country. It is believed by those in Europe that the Chinese government believes its people are too proud to purchase second hand clothing.
” Since the start of free trade after 1990 the Eastern Bloc states have been some of the largest users of second hand clothing “
– Terry Ralph, TRA
But Terry Ralph, chair of the Textiles Recycling Association, believes that the Chinese people should be given the option to decide if this is the case, claiming that if the Chinese are not interested in pre-owned clothes they simply won't buy them.
He said: “This theory can only be tested by free importation giving the citizens free choice to buy what they need.”
Mr Ralph believes that if China wishes to export into Europe it should be prepared to take second hand clothing in return. This, especially when levels of clothing imported into EU countries are so high that a quota has had to be put on the amount.
In the UK similarities have been drawn between the former Soviet Union and China's stance today. In the 1970s The UK government refused to take Soviet Eastern Bloc countries seriously as an outlet for second hand materials because it was believed they would be too proud to accept the materials.
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But Mr Ralph explained: “Since the start of free trade after 1990 the Eastern Bloc states have been some of the largest users of second hand clothing. These markets can only be explored when the ordinary population is given the freedom of choice to buy what they need and want. All trade should be mutually beneficial and not one-sided.”
The European textile industry has been hit by a double whammy of problems related to cheap Chinese imports of clothing in recent years. The clothes are sold at prices competitive to second hand goods offered by charity shops, once these clothes enter the re-use stream the low quality makes them difficult to recycle.
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