Brussels, 08/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission pointed out that the data collected from the customs monitoring system that it set in place after abolition of quotas on 1 January this year show an explosion in Chinese shoe exports to the Community market of nearly 700% on average over the first four months of the year compared to the same period in 2004. Figures provided by the Commission show that, for six categories of footwear (leather or fabric, with high added value and subject to quotas before 1 January) the EU imported, in the first four months of the year, 161.9 million pairs of shoes from China, of which 110 million were textile shoes with high added value, compared to 23.7 million during the same period in 2004 - a leap forward of 681%. The Commission also points to a fall in prices of 28% per unit for shoes from China, thus fuelling the dumping suspicions expressed by European businessmen in the sector. The rise in imports from other countries of the world, mainly Asian countries, is also very clear, to 164% in volume, with the greatest fall in price per unit at 36%.
The Commission nonetheless wished to remain very cautious at this stage. “We have just compiled these figures. We shall examine them carefully and reflect upon a course of action”, Claude Veron-Reville, Spokesperson for Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, told the press, refusing to confirm that a request for anti-dumping measures against China had been filed by the European footwear sector. Ms Veron-Reville went on to say that the Commission does not wish to comment on requests made by the footwear industry. If a request were filed, it would be examined as required according to its urgency, she added, saying it is “obvious that, if it is proven that there are unfair trade practices, then we shall not hesitate to take the necessary measures”. Ms Veron-Reville confirmed that Mr Mandelson will be in Beijing on Friday evening in an attempt to come to an agreement with the Chinese authorities on textile exports before expiry of the time limit for implementation of EU safeguard measures.