Shipping agents fear that a backlog of Chinese textile imports could soon lead to chaos at British ports.

The agents blame a lack of guidance from the Department of Trade and Industry over the handling of £50 million-worth of clothing, including underpants, trousers, bed linen and bras, which have been blocked from entering the country as a result of a dispute between the European Union and China over trade quotas.

Shipping experts have criticised the EU for imposing quotas "without understanding the mechanics of the shipping business".

A retail trade organisation has also spoken of a "huge amount of uncertainty" over the situation, which is already costing some traders dear, as they have to pay warehousing costs on goods that they have paid for, but are prevented for taking delivery.

The warnings come as a team of EU negotiators entered into talks with officials in Beijing. After eight hours of "constructive talks", the negotiators agreed to a second day of discussions on Friday.

Retailers have already said British shoppers could be affected by shortages this autumn if the row continues.

The quotas were brought in earlier this year to protect European manufacturers from a flood of cheap Chinese goods after long-term limits on imports were removed in January.

Port agents say the full impact of the blockade has not yet been felt, but they have voiced concern that confusion over what to do with millions of garments shipped from China could lead to disruption in coming weeks.

"The details we have been given so far by the DTI have been very sketchy and at this stage we are none the wiser as to what might happen or how to deal with the situation," said Darren Cocker, of Trader Shipping.

Trader Shipping oversees the import of hundreds of container-loads of clothes from China at Felixstowe, Britain’s largest container terminal. Already, it has seen large volumes of Chinese imports held in bonded warehouses by HM Revenue and Customs on behalf of the DTI.

Adrian Smith, the sales director at Gymphlex, a children’s clothes specialist, is typical of the thousands of smaller traders already affected by the blockade. "We now have a container load of tracksuit jackets and trousers impounded in a bonded warehouse," he said.

"Since the time of ordering in June, we have had no indication that there would be a problem with quotas on these items. We have paid for the goods and are now being charged for warehousing. We have no idea when we will be able to obtain their release."

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