Brussels, 18/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 17 September, a majority of member states objected to maintaining definitive antidumping duties on imports of leather footwear from China and Vietnam after temporary duties expire on 7 October. Represented by their trade experts meeting in antidumping committee, 15 member states headed by Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Sweden took a stance against the European Commission's proposal to keep duties in place for at least 15 months, to allow time for the issue to be re-examined. Duties are imposed on 16.5% and 10%, respectively, of Chinese and Vietnamese exports to the EU of shoes with leather uppers. Headed by Austria, Spain, France and Italy, 12 member states were in favour of keeping the duties in place as long as possible. Although the opinion of member states does not have a binding nature, it may nonetheless make Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson reconsider his plan to open a period for review of these duties which, resulting from a compromise allowing strong division in Council to be overcome, were set in place in October 2006 for just two years instead of the normal five. The balance of positions at the antidumping committee “is a clear indication of the opposition to these unnecessary measures”, said Jan Eggert, Secretary General for the Foreign Trade Association (FTA) that defends the interests of European importers. Eurocommerce, the European federation of distributors and retailers, as well as the European Consumers' Bureau (BEUC), the European Association of Fashion Retailers (AEDT) and the Federation of Sporting Goods Industry (FESI), which groups brands such as Adidas and Nike, immediately hailed this “no” from most member states to the Commission proposal. (E.H./transl.jl)