The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said that a decision by the European Union (EU) to impose duties as high as 19.4 percent on Chinese shoe imports was discriminatory.
"The EU's claim of dumping lacks proof, a spokesman, Chong Quan, said in a statement on the ministry's Web site. It's obvious protectionism and will not benefit the countries in the EU."
EU, which imported shoes worth US$5.9 billion from China and Vietnam in the past year, will impose tariffs starting at 4 percent on some imports from the two countries April 7.
EU investigators "found compelling evidence of state intervention, dumping and injury," the EU trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, said.
The duties add to a series of disputes with China over textile and apparel imports and piracy of copyrights, trademarks and patents. The country"s trade surplus tripled to a record US$102 billion last year, sparking increased calls in the United States and Europe for China to let its currency strengthen.
"The game's not over yet — this is not a final decision and companies can appeal," said Matthew McConkey, a partner with U.S. law firm DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary in Beijing. "There's a very strong impetus for China to try to come to some negotiated deal."
The statement did not say whether China would complain to the World Trade Organization or take other retaliatory measures. Gao Hucheng, China's Vice Msinister of commerce, told Mandelson in January thatthe Chinese Government might take the case to the global trade body.
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