EU members reject duties on Vietnam shoes

Tag : Italy Shoes


The official said 15 of 27 member states voted against a plan toextend the anti-dumping duties at a meeting on Wednesday.
The decision, which is not binding, puts pressure on EU trade chiefPeter Mandelson to drop the tax. European shoe-making countries,led by its largest shoe producer, Italy, are pushing for a reviewof the duties, a procedure that could extend the application of thetaxes for up to 15 months.
The EU anti-dumping measures, which were originally imposed for twoyears, include import duties of 10 percent on Vietnamese shoes withleather uppers and 16.5 percent on the same kind of shoes fromChina. The duties are due to expire in October.
In June, Italys Shoe Manufacturer's Association told the EuropeanCommission shoe imports from Vietnam and China were still hurtingits members and the national industry.
On Wednesday, the Federation of the European Sporting GoodsIndustry, which includes shoemakers Adidas, Nike, Asics, Diadora,Fila, Lotto and Puma, called on the commission to reconsider theduties which the association said was inflating shoe prices in theEU and hurting the European shoe industry.
Vietnams Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Danh Vinh saidat a press briefing in Brussels on Monday that local businesseswere not dumping goods in the EU. Vinh said the duties were unfairand impeding international trade.
The Vietnamese deputy minister said the commission should let themeasures, which impact 40,000 Vietnamese workers, expire asscheduled from October 7.
While under investigation for dumping, Vietnam exported about 102million pairs of leather shoes in 2005 to 2006. Exports reduced by10 percent to 91 million pairs in 2007 because the duties madeVietnamese shoes less competitive in EU markets, according to theVietnam Leather and Footwear Association.
Reported by Minh Quang