Vietnam Trade, Foreign Affairs Officials Protest EU's Duties on Shoes

The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Danh Vinh voiced dissatisfaction with the European Union’s latest decision to extend duties on Vietnam’s leather capped-shoes at an international press conference Dec 23.

 

The decision issued Dec 22 is unfair to Vietnamese makers and opposite to the EU’s trade freedom policy, Nga told reporters in Hanoi.

 

It also affects a large number of European importers, retailers as well as consumers and block the EU’s efforts in supporting Vietnam’s poverty elimination, she added.

 

Deputy Minister Vinh, meanwhile, reiterated Vietnamese producers did not dump their products into the EU market and the European Commission’s application of punitive taxes aimed to defend the interests of a small group of European footwear makers unable to compete with Vietnam.

 

The footwear industry is benefiting Vietnam’s more than 500,000 laborers, mainly female workers.

 

In the nine months of 2009. Vietnam’s footwear export turnover to the EU market fell 11.2% from the same period of last year to US$1.6 billion.

 

The EU Footwear Alliance, which speaks for big brands such as Adidas and Clarks, also criticized the EU extension.  

 

The penalty duties of 10% against Vietnamese shoes and 16.5% on the same kind of shoes from China will come into force as of Jan 3 2010. (www.vietnamplus.vn , Pioneer) , Pioneer)