Shoe vote goes against EU manufacturers
Early unconfirmed reports from Brussels suggest that a vote among the 27 European Union (EU) member states on anti-dumping measures against imports of leather shoes from China and Vietnam has gone against a proposal to extend the duties.
Leather shoes from China and Vietnam have incurred duties (most recently of 16.5% and 10% respectively) on being imported into the EU since 2006 after the footwear manufacturing industry in Europe complained of unfair practices that allowed their Asian competitors to offer falsely low export prices.
The anti-dumping measures were for an initial two years, but last autumn, after looking at new evidence compiled by footwear manufacturers' organisations, the EU agreed to a formal review. It is the result of this review that member states have been asked to consider now.
Indications are that 10 member states voted in favour of the extension, but 15 voted against, with two abstaining.
This is not the end of the matter as the European Union's Council of Ministers must now meet to hold a final vote. This meeting is expected to take place on December 22.
Retailers and some big footwear brands have lobbied hard to remove the duties, while groups representing manufacturers have consistently argued that they only want their members to be able to compete on a level platform.
