Responding To EU Anti-Dumping: Chinese Shoe Companies Refuse Silence

In February 8, 2006, the EU's anti-dumping alliance against Chinese shoe products was established in Guangzhou.

In March 8, 2006, the trade associations of the three major shoemaking enterprises in Guangdong, Quanzhou and Wenzhou spontaneously formed the EU anti-dumping alliance.

In October 23, 2006, AOKANG group first announced a lawsuit against the European Union Court, accusing the European Union of imposing anti-dumping duties of 16.5% on Chinese footwear enterprises, which do not comply with the relevant laws of the European Union.

On October 8, 2008 ~10, after the EU announced the sunset review decision, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Fujian three major shoe making bases were convened to deal with the coordination meeting.

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This is not an ordinary international safeguard.

In this trade conflict known as the Sino European shoe war, Chinese enterprises did not remain silent from the very beginning, but took the initiative to fight back.

Shoe companies are deeply chill. "We are in an unprecedented period of difficulty. The EU's move has pushed many shoe companies in Wenzhou to the brink of precipice."

Reporters learned in the interview that Wenzhou shoe enterprises suffered serious damage this time.

It is understood that after the EU imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese leather shoes, Wenzhou shoe enterprises actively readjust their product structure. At present, Wenzhou's shoes exported to the EU have changed from genuine leather shoes to non leather shoes. Meanwhile, synthetic leather shoes have opened up the US market which has weakened consumption due to the financial crisis.

      謝榕芳介紹說，金帝鞋業是溫州出口皮鞋數量最多的企業，以前整體出口歐盟，從2007年開始，金帝鞋業皮面鞋出口下降了91%，革鞋出口則增長了120%。而出口排名第二的東藝鞋業，目前也已將主要出口市場轉向了美國等其他非歐盟國家。

Wenzhou shoe enterprises suffer severe damage, and Fujian shoe enterprises are also having a bad time.

In Pan Yangzheng's view, the dispute between China and Europe in shoe trade is a war of fatigue, and the recent frequent anti-dumping investigations are worrying him.

Chinese enterprises should respond positively, and at the same time, the government and trade associations should do their best to negotiate. This is not only a trade contest, but also a political game.

Counterattack is the only choice. For Chinese shoe companies, counterattack is the only choice.

In the interview, the reporter learned that the domestic large-scale shoemaking enterprises even started the "two line operation" plan: on the one hand, actively preparing materials, other United Nations shoe enterprises collectively responded to sunset review; on the other hand, since 2006, AOKANG and other Chinese shoe enterprises have launched anti-dumping proceedings against the European court of justice. At present, the lawsuit has been completed in written defense procedure.

"In 2006, we organized the enterprises to sue, because of lack of experience and suffered defeat, and let the European Union levy anti-dumping duties for 2 years.

We hope that the government will be strong enough to win the lawsuit together.

Zhou Jiajia, director of the Fair Trade Department of the China Light Industry Arts and crafts import and Export Chamber of Commerce, said that in the leather shoes anti-dumping investigation, the performance of Chinese enterprises can be excellent.

During the interview, Xie Rongfang repeatedly stressed that Wenzhou's exports to the EU's shoes are not inferior low-priced shoes. The EU's anti-dumping mainly deals with the leather shoes exported from China, which belong to the middle and high grade shoes. The EU's anti dumping conceals political purposes. On the other hand, China's exports to the EU are cheap and beautiful, which are popular among European consumers, which is one of our bargaining chips with the EU.

She said she hoped that more shoe manufacturers would take part in the sunset review. Meanwhile, shoe companies should use all opportunities and occasions to strengthen exchanges with the European Union. This would also help the European market to enhance understanding of Chinese shoes, reduce trade frictions and promote the footwear industry in China to move towards the international market in a more concentrated manner.

　　背景資料

After the abolition of the quota management of footwear exported to the EU in December 31, 2004, the European footwear Federation, led by Italy and Spain, made an appeal to the European Commission on the pretext of my substantial increase in the export of footwear in the EU, and requested anti-dumping measures on footwear exported to China including 33 tax numbers.

After a year's investigation, in October 2, 2006, the European Union reluctantly passed the anti-dumping case, despite the opposition of 12 opposing countries and the opposition of the other members of the country, with the result of only one vote, and imposed a 16.5% year anti-dumping duty on my leather shoes.

When the 2 year period for the export of leather shoes was expired, the European Union decided, on October 2, 2008, to review anti-dumping duties on leather shoes imported from China for a year to decide whether to extend anti-dumping measures.

Editor in chief: Xu Qiyun