German and Italian furniture manufacturers are also preparing formal complaints for the EU accusing China of selling upholstered sofas and other seating at unfairly low prices. Germany and Italy are said to produce about half of the EU’s total output of furniture. Retailers rely heavily on cheaper imports from Asia to remain competitive so will not favour the move. If the EU adopts further it will only exacerbate the existing tensions between the two world powers which have escalated recently over similar allegations over textiles and footwear.