The China Leather Industry Association has reacted to the EU anti-dumping duties of between 4-19.4% on leather shoe exports from China with the following statement:
‘This approach lacks any basis in fact and law and violates the principles of fair trade. We believe that Chinese shoe makers were not dumping and have not caused substantial damage to European shoe makers. It is clearly discriminatory in refusing to accept all applications of Chinese shoe makers being inspected on-site for market economy status. Such action is a serious breach of the principle of free trade. The decision of applying a unified tariff to all shoe makers involved in the anti-dumping case is also discriminatory and a concentrated demonstration of trade protectionism. The decision made by the EU will not save shoe makers in Europe and not sharpen EU shoe makers’ competitive edge. Painful but inevitable industrial structuring would be the better option. We hope to strengthen the cooperation with European partners in the shoe sector but all of these actions should be carried out under the fundamental principles of equality and mutual benefit. Otherwise, China’s enterprises as well as European consumers, distributors, importers and its manufacturing industry will suffer in general.
‘The European Union should reconsider its decision and make a determination in conformity with WTO rules. Otherwise the Chinese enterprises will take the legal action to contest the EU decision.’
