The Brussels-based Foreign Trade Association (FTA) attacked the European Union's decision on Thursday to impose anti-dumping duties on shoes imported from China and Vietnam.

The association, which consists of about 80 national trade associations and companies from all over Europe, said the punitive measures would hurt European consumers.

In a statement issued while European Union leaders were attending a two-day summit here on economic issues, FTA President Ferry den Hoed said he could not see any reason to introduce anti-dumping duties.

The lifting of shoe quotas vis-a-vis China as of Jan. 1 2005 had naturally led to an increase of imports from China, while imports from other shoe producing countries had decreased, he said.

"The effect on European shoe producers however, is minimal, as European shoes are in a different price segment", said den Hoed. "In consequence, we will see price increases and less choice to the detriment of European consumers."

"The decision is difficult to understand, particularly since the vote of the EU member states last week was less than convincing," den Hoed said.

EU member states were reported to be split in a vote over Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson's proposal on punitive duties on March 16.

Only three countries voted in favor of the tariffs, while ten voted against and 11 abstained.

The FTA, which focuses on foreign trade issues, has campaigned against the proposal ever since the European Commission (EC) opened investigation of shoe imports from China and Vietnam.

According to measures adopted by the EC on Thursday, the anti-dumping duties were to be phased in over six months, starting from April 7.

The duties will start at 4.8 percent and rise to 19.4 percent for Chinese shoes, while for Vietnamese shoes they will start at 4.2 percent and rise to 16.8 percent .

However, children's shoes and high-tech sports shoes will be excluded from the tariffs.

Source: Xinhua