Chinese Shoes May Be Subject To EU Anti-Dumping Sunset Review Appeal Again

On December 15, the reporter learned from the shoe making office of China Leather Association recently that footwear industry It is brewing to mention the leather shoes imported from China and Vietnam again anti-dumping Sunset review appeal.

On October 5, 2006, the European Union made a decision on leather shoes The anti-dumping duty of 16.5% is levied uniformly, and the duration of the measures is two years. After the expiration at the end of 2008, it will enter the sunset review. In December 2009, the European Commission ruled again to extend the anti-dumping duty for 15 months until March 2011.

"As the anti-dumping measures for Chinese leather shoes will expire at the end of March next year, according to EU laws, the EU industrial review appeal must be filed before the end of December." Wei Yafei, director of the Shoes Office of China Leather Association, told our reporter.

Pu Lingchen, the Chinese lawyer who has been acting as an agent in the anti-dumping case of Chinese leather shoes, said in an interview with our reporter that the European Footwear Federation is likely to submit an anti-dumping review appeal again before the end of December because of the positive attitude of Italy, Spain and other old shoe manufacturing countries. "This will mean that the anti-dumping duty will continue for some time".

In 2006, five Chinese shoe enterprises, including Aokang, believed that the European Commission had violated the law during the investigation, and filed a judicial review with the European Court of First Instance in December 2006. The lawsuit lasted nearly four years. In March 2010, the European Court of First Instance rejected the claims of five Chinese shoe companies. In June 2010, Aokang and other Chinese shoe enterprises filed a lawsuit to the European Union High Court again.

"At present, the EU High Court is hearing the defense proceedings of both parties involved in the case, which is expected to end at the beginning of next year. If necessary, the High Court will also hold an oral defense meeting." Pu Lingchen said that the EU is a consortium that respects the law, and this case will not be disturbed by too many political and economic factors, and the result of the High Court's judgment should be more optimistic.

Pu Lingchen revealed that the first round meeting of the WTO expert group has just ended, and all parties have reported the case. The second round of the meeting will be held around January 20 next year, at which all parties will defend themselves. The whole verdict will be known in March next year.

It is reported that the Ministry of Commerce of China has requested the WTO to set up a special case team to hear the case in early 2010. On May 18, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) officially set up an expert group to review the relevant provisions of the EU's Basic Anti dumping Law and the EU's anti-dumping measures against Chinese leather shoes.