"There will be a communication from (Trade) Commissioner (Peter) Mandelson on guidelines for the application of safeguard measures on textiles products from China," spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen told a news briefing.

The European textile industry has demanded that the EU impose restrictions on imports following the end of quotas for Chinese textiles at the start of this year.

Mandelson has said it is too early to judge the impact of the lifting of past restrictions because figures for imports since January 1 are not yet available.

The Commission will discuss on what grounds the 25-nation EU could limit Chinese imports at its regular weekly meeting on Wednesday.

It will be the first time the Commission discuss how to apply possible limits on Chinese textile imports, said an EU official, adding that Mandelson would not be presenting his colleagues with a proposal to move to trade sanctions.

France and Italy are leading the calls for import curbs.

The fear of an influx of cheap garments from Asia has also delayed an EU trade reform aimed at lowering import barriers for developing countries.

The scheme was fast-tracked to aid tsunami-hit states and was supposed to enter into force on April 1 but the EU so far has not been able to reach a deal.