[05 Feb] China Seeks Consultations on EU Shoe Tariffs at WTO

China has sought talks at the World Trade Organization on the European Union's decision to extend antidumping tariffs on Chinese leather shoe imports, Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian said Thursday, after expressing in December "strong dissatisfaction" over the tariffs.

China "hopes the E.U. will be able to pay attention to the Chinese side's strong concerns and properly address the issue under the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism at an early date," Yao said in a statement on the ministry's Web site.

The E.U., which had imposed duties of 16.5% on Chinese shoe imports and 10% on shoes from Vietnam since 2006, extended the duties by 15 months from January.

The European Commission said Chinese and Vietnamese shoe manufacturers still sell their products at artificially low prices in the European market.

(Source: irco.biz)