Former commissioner enters footwear row
09/11/2009
Europe's former trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, has re-entered the debate about anti-dumping duties on imports of leather shoes from China and Vietnam.
Lord Mandelson gave up the role just over a year ago after announcing a formal review into the measures, which came into effect in 2006. The review is almost complete and his successor, Baroness Catherine Ashton, is preparing to announce the outcome amid intense lobbying from footwear manufacturers in, mainly, southern Europe, who are in favour of keeping the duties in place, and footwear retailers in, mainly, northern Europe, who insist that the extra 16.5% on imports from China and of 10% on those from Vietnam, are pushing consumer prices up.
At a recent speech in Brussels, Lord Mandelson said there was no longer justification for the duties and said that keeping them in place could harm Europe's wider trading relationship with the two Asian countries.
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