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China regrets EU extension on shoe duties

BEIJING: China’s Commerce Ministry said on Friday it regretted and opposed a decision by the European Commission to extend anti-dumping duties on its leather shoes pending a review and despite resistance from a majority of European Union nations.

A review can take between 12 and 15 months, but the Commission said it hopes to complete its work more quickly in this case and may reimburse the extra tariffs imposed during the review should it be proven the duties were unnecessary. “The restructuring of the European shoe industry has finished,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement posted on its website. “Its exports are strong, which demonstrates that the European industry is strong and there is no need to protect it,” it added.

Last week a majority of EU countries had rebelled against a plan that would keep the duties, siding with retailers and global shoemakers, which manufacture in low-cost China and Vietnam, and have been hit by the global economic slowdown. China said European shoe firms were moving towards the high end of the global supply chain and were focused on research and design, so they did not directly compete with Chinese products. “We hope (the) European Union can make decisions based on facts and follow people’s demands, and will not extend the anti-dumping duties against Chinese leather shoes,” it added. reuters

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