New European trade commissioner named
With the debate over extending anti-dumping duties on
imports of leather shoes from Vietnam and China still raging, the European
Commission has named Belgium’s Karel De Gucht as its new trade commissioner. He
will take over from Catherine Ashton, who was appointed to the new post of High
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on November
19, the same day as a vote among trade experts from the 27 member states went
against an extension.
But the divisive issue of leather shoe imports is now in the hands of Austrian
commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who will act as a stand-in until next
year. She will examine the evidence that footwear manufacturing groups in
Europe have put together to show that their rivals in China and Vietnam are
exporting leather footwear to Europe at falsely low prices. Heads of the 27
member states will then meet to discuss the matter in December and may still
overthrow the November 19 vote.
