The president of a footwear industry body in Mexico has warned that a decision on the country's request to keep tariffs in place on shoe imports from China beyond the end of the year is likely to remain in the hands of the World Trade Organisation.

 

José Abugaber, who heads up the Footwear Chamber of Guanajuato, suggested that the WTO may prefer "to cover its eyes" and appealed to the Mexican government to fight the industry's corner.

 

"We will take our demands all the way," he said. "We have a case [for extending the tariffs] and we have proof. This is a commercial war and we have to win it, even if international panels insist on becoming involved."

 

If Mexico decides unilaterally to keep tariffs on 11 kinds of footwear imports from China, the Asian country is likely to present an official complaint to the WTO.