Yesterday the Chinese Ministry of Commerce threw its weight
behind domestic shoemakers seeking legal action against the
European Union's (EU) anti-dumping tariffs.
"The Chinese Government respects and supports their move," said
an official with the ministry's Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports
and Exports. He added it was their legal right to do so. He said it
also indicated that Chinese enterprises had learned to defend their
legal rights amid international competition.
The European Commission (EC) decided in a final ruling on a
dumping claim to levy a 16.5 percent tariff on China-made leather
shoes beginning October 7. The charges will be in effect for two
years.
According to EU law the Chinese enterprises involved can file
complaints at EU courts within two months of the final ruling being
announced. Chinese shoe manufacturers and industry bodies announced
late last month they would sue the EC over the duty.
A Ministry of Commerce official noted that the Commission had
violated EU regulations in the dumping charges against Chinese
leather shoes. "We also notice that there are several success
stories in which Chinese enterprises won lawsuits against foreign
governments' anti-dumping rulings," he said.
Aokang, one of China's biggest makers of leather shoes, was the
first to announce the campaign against the EU rulings. It has been
joined by industrial associations and individual enterprises.
The China Leather Shoes and Sport Shoes Commission said it
supports Aokang in its action to protect the footwear industry and
defend national interests. A dozen shoe manufacturers from
Guangdong, Zhejiang and Liaoning provinces have also announced they
would hire European lawyers to jointly file the lawsuit.
Lu Jianhua, director of the ministry's foreign trade department,
earlier said the EU anti-dumping charges were likely to affect
US$730 million worth of exports and more than 70,000 Chinese
jobs.
(China Daily November 13, 2006)