The Vietnamese Ministry of Trade has said that the European Commission’s new proposal for 10% anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese leather shoes is too high and that it will present serious problems for local shoe makers as well as affecting consumers in Europe.

Estimates state that with the new anti-dumping duty plus the existing tariff, an average duty of more than 14% will be imposed on Vietnamese leather shoes exported to the European Union. This is likely to have an impact on local employment and wages and reduce the competitiveness of Vietnamese shoes.

The EU has now included children’s leather shoes on the list of items subject to anti-dumping duties.