As a result of cheap footwear imports from Vietnam and Mexico is now considering anti-dumping measures against Vietnam.

Vietnamese shoe exports to Mexico have increased 132% in recent years, from 6.8 million pairs in 2003 to 15.8 million in 2005 with shoe prices as low as $5-8 per pair. However, according to Vietnamese reports, despite these seemingly high levels of imports, a great deal of this footwear is re-exported to other countries.

As a result of EU anti-dumping laws, Vietnam has had to find new markets for footwear exports and as Mexico has low import duties it became an ideal export destination.

Vietnamese footwear manufacturers have already faced 21 anti-dumping disputes, the majority of which arose between 2002 and 2005.

Although the effect of this legal action would not have as great an effect as the EU anti-dumping legislation, Vietnamese manufacturers are being warned to take precautionary measures in order to limit further difficulties within the footwear industry.