EU seeks duties on Chinese shoes

cctv.com 02-24-2006 13:40

European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson is proposing anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese and Vietnamese shoes. He says there is "compelling" evidence of dumping behavior.

Mandelson is proposing punitive tariffs of up to 19.4 percent on Chinese leather shoes and 16.8 percent on Vietnamese leather shoes. The measures would not affect children's shoes or sports shoes. Under Mandelson's proposal, the tariffs would be introduced at four percent from April the 7th, and progressively increased to the highest levels over six months.

Speaking on Thursday, Mandelson called the action justified. He said an EU investigation had found "compelling evidence" of state financing, non-commercial rates for land use, tax breaks, and improper assets valuation in both China and Vietnam.

Mandelson said he'd raised the dumping issue with Chinese and Vietnamese ministers on Thursday morning. He added the European Commission will continue to discuss the bloc's concerns with the two Asian countries.

By phasing in the penalties, the commission hopes to avoid the kind of distribution blockages that occurred when the EU limited imports of Chinese textiles last year.

Meanwhile, European consumer organizations, including EuroCommerce and the European Consumers' Organization, have attacked the commissioner's plan. The European Consumers' Organization says EU shoemakers can't meet demand because of high costs. And the proposed duties would add as much as 12 US dollars to the average price of shoes within the bloc.

Editor:Chen Zhuo  Source:CCTV.com