Anti-dumping measures against Chinese-made leather shoes by the European Union (EU) have angered shoemakers, said a spokesman of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Light Industrial Products and Arts-Crafts (CCCLA) on Sunday.

The EU's new policy, adopted on October 5, would be detrimental to the lawful rights of Chinese shoemakers and wouldn't be beneficial to the competitiveness of European manufacturers, the spokesman said. The interests of EU shoe importers, retailers, wholesalers and consumers would inevitably be hurt as well, he added. 

The EU had adopted a quota policy for Chinese-made shoes for 10 years but their own industry had failed to take the opportunity to adjust during that period, said the spokesman who preferred not to be identified.

The spokesman said that the problems the EU industry faced weren't caused by imports of Chinese-made shoes.

The majority of Chinese shoemakers were private companies and since the country's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) the government had kept its promise not to interfere in the business activities of these firms, said the spokesman.

Protectionism couldn't resolve the problems facing the EU's shoe industry and the only way-out for resolving the situation was bilateral cooperation between the shoemakers of the two sides, the spokesman said.

Chinese shoemakers would continue safeguarding their rights in collaboration with EU import and retail bodies in accordance with relevant WTO documents, the spokesman added.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2006)