Contraband products take their toll on Guatemala’s f - leatherbiz: Lea Leatherbiz

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Contraband products take their toll on Guatemala’s footwear industry

17/08/2018
The president of Guatemala’s national union for manufacturers of footwear and footwear components (Grecalza), Carmen María Torrebiarte, has said the country’s footwear industry continues to be haunted by “old ghosts”: contraband products and the mass import of shoes from overseas. 

Speaking ahead of the 28th edition of footwear show Expo Calzado, she said Guatemala’s domestic shoe manufacturers are hindered by disloyal competition, the practice by which products are imported at prices lower than the cost of making them in the country. 

“It is unfair that the hard work and efforts of Guatemalan workers and companies is being devalued by the issue of contrabanding,” Ms Torrebiarte added.

According to Grecalza, Guatemala’s footwear imports are growing by around 4.6% each year, with 80% of the shoes consumed in the country now brought in from overseas. 

For his part, Eduardo Girón, vice president Guatemalan industry association CIG, said contraband products affect many aspects of the economy, but that the footwear industry is hit especially hard by them.


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