Robert Sturdy

EU SHOE TARIFFS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE BOOT, SAYS MEP ROBERT STURDY

EU countries have been urged to defend retailers and consumers tomorrow when they vote on renewing punitive trade duties on Chinese and Vietnamese shoe imports, according to MEP Robert Sturdy, Conservative international trade spokesman in the European Parliament.

The EU’s anti-dumping committee will decide whether to extend a 16.5 per cent and a 10 per cent tariff on shoes from China and Vietnam respectively for another 15 months. The duties were introduced by Lord Mandelson in 2006 when he was Trade Commissioner.

Retailers have not taken a shine to the plans, which Clarks Shoes says have cost it around €800m in import costs since 2006.

Mr Sturdy is calling on national governments to think of the millions of consumers who will have to pay more for their shoes, rather than the few Mediterranean producers who want to protect against globalisation, and that they should seize it as an opportunity.

He said:

“Once again we are seeing the EU’s trade policy determined by a few southern European producers who have failed to see globalisation as an opportunity and want the EU to futilely protect against it.

“This is an EU tax on consumers and retailers which will not save manufacturing jobs in Europe in the long run.

“We cannot shut out cheap imports from Asia, but we can reap the benefits from cheaper production thanks to outsourcing. Countries like Britain who have embraced outsourcing of basic production have found their fashion industries thrive as more design and finishing jobs are created at home.

“It seems ludicrous that the EU would want to artificially inflate the prices of shoes at a time when we are trying to encourage high street spending.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
1.    For further information, please contact: Robert on 002 228 45294,
or ECR Press Office James Holtum on 0032 473 861762.
2.    Media requests can be arranged through Robert’s Press Officer, Ellee Seymour, on 07939 811961.