The Financial Times has reported that three EU member states will be joining forces to stop the European Commission from introducing anti-dumping tariffs on Asian footwear, mainly from China. Thomas Östros, Sweden’s trade minister, said Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark are preparing a joint initiative which they hope will entice other members of the 25-nation organisation to join.

The joint initiative comes as the EU’s anti-dumping committee reviewed the shoe dossier to decide whether to narrow the possible anti-dumping action and exclude most sports shoes. That discussion proved inconclusive, according to officials.

The report states that EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson could open a new front in efforts to contain China's booming exports by introducing tariffs on the country's exports of leather and reinforced shoes early next year.