A charge of dumping against Chinese protective footwear makers
by the European Union (EU) has been dropped and the leather
shoemakers now await the final ruling in their case.
The EU dumping charge against protective footwear imported from
China was terminated after the European Confederation of the
Footwear Industry formally withdrew its complaint, the EC
explained. ?
Chinese businesses had testified to the EU that the exports
didn't harm Europe's shoemaking industry, said Li Fayin, a lawyer
with Beijing-based Allbright Law Office. The firm is representing
the shoe manufacturers involved in the case.
"This is the first time Chinese enterprises have won an
anti-dumping case in the EU market by non-injurious appeal since
cigarette lighter manufacturers were successful in 2003," he
said.
The success is the result of collaboration between the industry,
other organizations, governments and lawyers. The Chinese
businesses were proactive in their stance and almost all large
protective footwear makers responded to the charges.
They presented sufficient facts to the EC to support the case
that China's exports were not damaging the business of European
manufacturers, Li said. "The EC didn't give a preliminary ruling on
protective footwear as in other dumping cases and its reason for
that was based on the Chinese enterprises' appeal," he
explained.
Major protective footwear makers in China also persuaded their
EU material suppliers to lobby the EC. Li said the case set an
example for other Chinese enterprises involved in anti-dumping
cases.
The EC adopted a proposal by Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson
on Wednesday for a 16.5 percent duty on leather shoes imported from
China and 10 percent on those from India.
The EC said on its website it found "both dumping and injury to
EU producers" in its investigation. The proposal has been given to
EU members for a final vote which will be completed within a month.
If it's passed it'll be effective for five years.?
EU Trade Spokesman Peter Power said: "The commission has
fulfilled its obligations and responsibilities and has brought
forward a sound proposal. It's now for member states to debate
their position among themselves."
The plan was rejected by a narrow margin in July at advisory
level. An earlier "quota plus tariff" proposal by Mandelson was
also turned down by EU members in July.
The EU launched dumping charges against the Chinese
manufacturers?last?July amid concerns that increasing
footwear imports would flood markets and hurt European
shoemakers.
Europe is China's largest footwear market in both value and
volume. The EU now implements a "phase-in" of the tariff system as
a result of its preliminary ruling on the case.
(China Daily September 1, 2006)