EU Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson has defended his proposal to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese and Vietnamese footwear imports.

Speaking on March 12 he stated, "If the European Union moves next month, as I have proposed it should, to impose anti-dumping duties on some leather shoe imports from China and Vietnam, the European Commission is likely to be criticised from two sides. European leather shoe producers, faced with extraordinarily tough competition from Asia will demand higher tariffs and wider action. European Importers and retailers, who are currently benefiting from cheap state-subsidised leather shoes from China and Vietnam will accuse the Commission of trying to protect European industry and passing on higher costs to consumers.

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