Verrips also considers the EU Commission's final changes to their proposal a failure. “Based on the changes an even greater amount of footwear will be struck by duties than before“, Verrips explains.
The figures used by the EU are in any case inapplicable. “The Commission tries to minimize the impact by saying that “only” approximately ten per cent of shoes sold in the EU are affected. The reality is that the percentage of all leather shoes in the EU affected by the measures is close to 25 per cent,”states Verrips.
“The consumers and retail operators are the ones to be hurt. Even the EU Commission believes that the duties will increase the cost for a pair of shoes by at least 3 Euro. One thing is certain; a price increase of that size can not be absorbed by most operators. Consumer prices will undoubtedly increase. “
Especially Southern European shoe manufacturers have vehemently lobbied in the last year for the introduction of duties against imports of footwear from China and Vietnam. However, the measures are senseless and even damaging from an economical perspective.
“The EU Commission's insistences on introducing anti-dumping duties will doubtless lead to higher prices for the consumer as well as to massive job losses in the retail and import sector. That is a very high price to pay for a system that does not really benefit anybody."
"The duties will neither increase the sales figures for European manufacturers nor protect a single job in the EU, is the bitter conclusion of the representative of European footwear importers and retailers."
FAIR Footwear Association of Importers and Retailchains
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