Anti Dumping Investigation into Sports Shoes

BRUSSELS, Belgium - It is not just bicycle and parts that are under scrutiny by the European Commission. The Confederation of the European Footwear Industry (CEC) has requested an investigation into shoes with leather uppers, imported from China and Vietnam. The same allegations are made against the producers as with bikes. But not everyone is happy with the investigation: the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) is lobbying to get athletic footwear exempted - reason being that there is little production Europe of this type of shoe. Imposing duties on athletic shoes made in China and Vietnam might stimulate the production in Europe, but this is clearly not on the mind of the FESI. The investigation is planned to take some 15 months, but provisional duties are expected to be levied earlier, after only 9 months. Especially the Italian government is pressing for action to be taken sooner, as many jobs are at stake throughout Europe. Brazil is proposed as the market economy for China and Vietnam to be compared to.(MH)