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Shoemakers to face EU dumping charge
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-21 11:44

Shoemakers from China will defend themselves at a hearing to be held by the European Union against a possible anti-dumping tariff proposed by the EU.

A delegation made up of representatives from several leading shoe exporters and a shoe industry association will attend a public hearing probably tomorrow to address the EU charges, which is an essential procedure to solve the problem under the framework of the World Trade Organization.

The move comes before the EU's decision on whether to levy an anti-dumping tax on Chinese shoe exports.

The EU has finished its sample investigation of 13 domestic leather shoemakers and four safety shoe manufacturers by the end of November.

According to a statement on the EU's probe of the Chinese shoe exports issued by the China Leather Association a week earlier, the EU is expected to decide whether it would grant market status to China between now and mid-January, and announce the preliminary decision on the anti-dumping cases before April next year.

"We do not harm the (EU) market there and we will actively deal with EU's proposed anti-dumping measures on behalf of the whole industry," said Wang Ying, the general secretary of the China Chamber of Commerce of Light Industrial Products & Arts Shoe Branch.

The chamber also predicts that the EU may impose temporary anti-dumping tariffs soon due to the likely massive imports in January and February of Chinese shoes that were ordered in previous contracts.

The EU launched the anti-dumping investigation into China's safety shoes and leather shoes on June 30 and July 7.

The dispute involves US$52.55 million worth of safety shoes and about US$730 million worth of leather shoes, and concerns the livelihood of more than 1 million workers in 1,200 shoe manufacturers.

Firms which do not respond actively to the probe and are found guilty of dumping will probably face heavy anti-tariff duties. Those which respond actively to the probe will likely face a lighter punishment, according to the association.

Zhejiang Province-based Sai Na Group, whose exports to the EU account for over 50 percent of its total exports, has hired lawyers and has prepared all materials to deal with the allegation.



 
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