MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

EU votes to extend tariffs on shoes from China and Vietnam

The move is considered unpopular among retail groups in Europe

The European Union has voted to extend tariffs on shoes from China and Vietnam in order to help European producers compete with cheaper imports. The tariffs, which were first introduced in 2006, will last for a further 15 months.
A number of countries in the EU were opposed to the extension.

China is involved in a number of trade disputes, and on Monday lost an appeal to the World Trade Organization regarding US film and music imports.

The organisation ruled in August that China's policy of allowing the goods to be imported only by state-run firms broke global trade rules.

The tariffs on Chinese shoes will remain at 16.5%, and those on Vietnamese shoes will remain at 10%. While the extension will benefit EU shoemakers, it has proved unpopular among some retail groups in Europe.

“This will be a signal to failing companies around Europe that the Commission will step in and protect them from foreign competition,” said the British Retail Consortium. ”Consumers will have to keep paying inflated footwear prices”.