EU Intends To Extend Anti-Dumping Measures For Chinese And Vietnamese Footwear Products

According to BBC, European Union sources say the EU intends to maintain the existing anti-dumping measures against leather shoes in China and Vietnam until next year.

EU announced in 2006 that punitive tariffs were imposed on leather shoes exported to China and Vietnam to the EU, including tariffs on Chinese leather shoes as high as 16.5% and Vietnamese leather shoes as 10%.

This practice was condemned in Asia and barely passed within the European Union, with only 13 of the 25 EU Member States.

According to Agence France-Presse, the EU may keep the relevant anti-dumping duties until 2009 or even longer.

But a spokesman for EU Trade Commissioner Mandelson declined to comment on the matter.

According to the British Sunday times, according to a senior official in the Mandelson department, the anti-dumping duties on leather shoes in China and Vietnam will expire next month, and the EU trade department will require a comprehensive investigation of the situation.

If Agence France-Presse approves the investigation, it will mean that punitive tariffs will last for one year or even longer, Agence France-Presse reported.

According to reports, the EU initially imposed punitive tariffs on leather shoes in China and Vietnam for five years, and changed to two years after strong opposition from the two member states.