Mexican footwear boss worries China's imports could be harmful to health
21/03/2013
Ysmael Lopez Garcia, president of the Chamber of the Footwear Industry for the State of Guanajuato in Mexico, told reporters that both countries were worries about the high volume of imports from China and the associated threat to local footwear businesses.
"China makes products that might look good, but the question is whether these materials have high levels of lead, heavy metals that affect the health of consumers. Governments have a responsibility to monitor that,” local publication Portafolio.co reported him as saying.
Colombia recently imposed a tariff of $5 per pair, plus 10% of value, on imported footwear.
"With the Colombian industry, we have established an exchange of technology and information, looking for ways to be more competitive," said Mr Lopez.
Colombia is the fourth-largest importer of Mexican shoes, after the US, Canada and Guatemala. It imports 500,000 pairs worth $3.9 million, out of a total 24 million pairs that Mexico exports annually.
Mr Lopez added: "Colombia has made great strides in the field of fashion, particularly in the design of shoes and leathergoods, which has led some of its brands, some very new, to conquer the runways of the world, highlighting the quality of the work."
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