New Situation Of Anti Dumping Of Chinese Leather Shoes In EU

　　 Geneva local time on April 20th, the Chinese delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) formally requested the WTO to set up an expert group to investigate and decide whether the EU anti-dumping measures against China's leather shoes are in violation of international trade rules. For Chinese leather shoes, this war, which lasted for 5 years, will continue.

For China's leather shoes, the road to export to the EU is not smooth. At least for nearly 5 years, they are all wrapped up in the shadow of anti-dumping. Geneva local time on April 20th, the Chinese delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) formally requested the WTO to set up an expert group to investigate and decide whether the EU anti-dumping measures against China's leather shoes are in violation of international trade rules.

　 Obviously, this "war" will continue for some time.

A long war

From October 2006, the EU began to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese leather shoes for 16.5% years from October 2006. In October 2008, the EU entered the stage of final review. After nearly a year's review, the European Commission decided to extend anti-dumping duties on Chinese leather shoes for 15 months, despite the opposition of most member States. The tax rate remained unchanged at 16.5%, and was implemented in January of 2010.

　 China's leather shoes enterprises and trade associations are the first ones to fight.

In 2006, 5 Chinese shoe companies such as AOKANG, Tamar, Jin Lu, new Hong Kong dollar and WAN Bang filed a lawsuit against the European Court of first instance, requesting the cancellation of the anti-dumping duty. However, in March this year, the court of first instance dismissed the claim.

"We will fight this lawsuit to the end, and we will not give up." Wang Zhentao, chairman of AOKANG group, told reporters that although the first trial was rejected, AOKANG would not give up on this issue. The United China Leather Association would accuse the European Commission to the high court.

According to the Chinese lawyer, Pu Ling Chen, who was in charge of the case, he found that there were many problems in the evaluation of the legal facts of the court by reading the judgment materials of the court of first instance. "According to the provisions of European law, China will submit the litigation documents and relevant evidence materials to the Supreme Court by May 4th." He revealed.

"We strongly support the continued appeal of Chinese shoe companies. On the one hand, there are many doubtful points in the first instance of the European Court of justice. The high court of appeal still has a grasp of winning. On the other hand, the Chinese government needs to express its attitude and position in the process of opening the trade settlement mechanism, which will be beneficial to the end of the anti-dumping case in March next year." Wei Ya Fei, director of shoe making office of China Leather Association, said.

　 At the same time, the Chinese government has intervened in this dispute.

In February 4th this year, China appealed to the WTO on the EU anti-dumping case against China's leather shoes, and the two sides held a two-day bilateral consultation on the case for 60 days. In accordance with the WTO dispute settlement procedure, the prosecution has the right to request the establishment of an expert group to investigate and decide on disputes in the absence of consultations.

On April 20th, the Chinese delegation to the World Trade Organization formally requested the WTO to set up an expert group to investigate and decide whether the anti-dumping measures taken by the EU on Chinese leather shoes violated the international trade rules and who moved the cheese. In fact, even within the European Union, the objection to levying anti-dumping duties on Chinese shoes is also getting higher and higher. 20.

Lord Mandelson, the British business secretary, warned that extending the anti-dumping duties on footwear products in China and Vietnam could damage the long-term business relationship between Europe and the two countries. He expressed concern that one of the consequences of the economic crisis was the decline in the enthusiasm of the European Union for free trade. "There is a more introverted attitude among EU Member States, that is," let us keep what we have now. " Mandelson said. Chinese shoe companies are deeply hurt. "The EU's anti-dumping investigations and decisions against Chinese leather shoes violate the relevant rules of WTO and damage the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises." Yao Jian, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, pointed out earlier.

According to statistics, after the EU took anti-dumping measures on Chinese shoes, the total amount of shoes imported from the EU dropped by 15%. Data show that in the past 3 years, the sales volume of China's shoe exports dropped by 15%, and its revenue dropped from 2 billion 80 million euros to 1 billion 780 million euros during the peak period. According to the latest statistics from China Leather Industry Association, the previous anti-dumping duty resulted in a 20% reduction in the output of Chinese leather shoes exported to Europe. About 40 million pairs of shoes were exported to the EU, which caused about twenty thousand workers to lose their jobs.

The head of the Ministry of Commerce's law enforcement division stressed that the EU has been carrying out trade protection for its footwear industry for up to 14 years. At present, there is no damage to the EU footwear industry. Extending the anti-dumping measures will not benefit the EU footwear industry, but will only harm the interests of EU consumers.

Indeed, no one can ignore the protectionist tendency hidden behind the anti-dumping lawsuit. "Western countries are deliberating the trend and action of trade protectionism against China." Li Daokui, director of the financial department of the school of economics and management of Tsinghua University, made a judgment on this occasion when interviewed by reporters, including the EU anti-dumping on Chinese leather shoes, which is one of the products of trade protectionism.

It is understood that China has become the biggest victim of trade protectionism. By November 3, 2009, 19 countries and regions had launched 101 trade surveys on China's export products, involving more than $11 billion 600 million. Up to the end of 3 this year, 152 cases of trade remedy measures launched by the European Union to China were among them. Among them, the EU has decided against China that the trade remedy measures being implemented will reach 56. Obviously, the EU's war against Chinese leather shoes will continue for some time.