First Latin American Footwear Industry Forum
24/07/2007
The first Latin American Footwear Industry Forum is to take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 30-31. It has been organised as a result of a meeting held during the 16th UNIDO panel in Brazil in May, and will bring together local trade associations, footwear industry chambers and special guests.
The aim is to discuss the current situation of, and prospects for, the industry which is under threat from cheaper Asian exports. The region also feels threatened by attempts from various developed countries to reduce import duties for industrialised goods in developing countries.
A number of Latin American nations is urging local governments to stop ignoring these problems and to encourage ministers to enforce policies that support the manufacturing sectors. Representatives from Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela have already confirmed their presence at the forum and other countries are also expected to join.
A number of Latin American nations is urging local governments to stop ignoring these problems and to encourage ministers to enforce policies that support the manufacturing sectors. Representatives from Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela have already confirmed their presence at the forum and other countries are also expected to join.
Secretary and foreign trade coordinator of Argentina's Footwear Chamber, Horacio Moschetto, said that participants aim to come to an agreement over these issues and to present documents to local governments, Mercosur and international organisations such as the WTO. He said: “Let's not forget that the Doha Round has not been discarded. If pressure exerted by developed countries forces developing countries to lower import duties, massive destruction of the industry in the latter would be inevitable.”
Share this story:
