This week found Peter Mandelson, the European Union's trade commissioner, in a pickle over pullovers. And indeed over a whole series of other textile imports from China. Yet the chaos that has descended on EU customs points - where millions of blocked garments are piling up - may have a silver lining.It should serve to expose the growing futility of protectionist measures, and the absurdities that such moves invariably throw up.

Global textile quotas were lifted on January 1, leading textile imports from China to balloon in both the EU and US. European and American textile producers responded with breast-beating about stolen jobs and pleas for renewed protection. Brussels and Washington duly obliged, imposing temporary restraints on imports "to ease the transition". So far, so familiar.