Footwear Enterprises Beijing Jointly Issued Anti-Dumping Declaration

"In the face of increasing anti-dumping pressure, our shoemaking enterprises should establish a platform for coping with international trade barriers, share information, share funds, and jointly express their legitimate demands."

On the morning of January 8th, in a briefing on anti dumping proceedings held in Beijing, Wang Zhentao, vice chairman of the China Leather Association and President of AOKANG group, represented four shoe manufacturers appealed against the EU anti-dumping, calling for more domestic shoe manufacturers to take action and jointly cope with international trade barriers.

On the same day, as the first Chinese entrepreneur to mention the EU anti-dumping lawsuit, Wang Zhentao represented four appeals companies, including AOKANG group, Tamar shoe industry, golden shoe shoe industry, new Hong Kong dollar footwear industry and so on, and published the "Beijing shoe joint declaration of Chinese shoe enterprises to deal with trade barriers".

The declaration said: "China's shoe-making enterprises should take part in actions to deal with international trade barriers and strive for their legitimate rights and interests, and work together to establish a healthy and harmonious trade order between China and the world's footwear industry."

Liao Yue, chairman of Wenzhou Tamar Shoes Co., Ltd. also told the meeting on the same day that the anti-dumping lawsuit should be shifted from "single soldier assault" to "coordinated operation", hoping that more domestic counterparts will stand up and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.

Su Chaoying, Secretary General of the China Leather Association, affirmed and supported the actions of AOKANG and Tamar, and thought that these appeals were positive and rational.

He said: "this time about the EU anti-dumping problem, AOKANG and other shoe-making enterprises do not complain all the time, nor wait passively. Instead, they take the initiative to come out and protect their legitimate rights and interests in the international market by legal means and through legal procedures.

These shoemaking enterprises are standing in front, making a sound for the shoemaking industry in the international market. This is amazing.

Because anti-dumping is inevitable. It is useless to discontent. We need to take the initiative to deal with it positively. The law is just.

This is a question that must be known to China's footwear industry in the international market after China's entry into WTO. "

Su Chaoying also said: "union is the general trend and is conducive to spreading the new image of China's footwear industry to the world. China's footwear industry should be a highly responsible and thoughtful group.

He also hoped that Chinese shoe enterprises should strengthen structural adjustment and industrial upgrading, speed up brand building and enhance their competitiveness.

This bulletin is the first time that since October 23rd, when AOKANG first announced the prosecution of the EU's anti-dumping duty on leather shoes originating in China for a two-year period of 16.5%, China's shoe companies appealed for the first time.

It is reported that at present, only AOKANG, Tamar, Jin Lu, new Hong Kong dollar and several other enterprises formally prosecute to the European Court, and thousands of Chinese shoe enterprises have given up the chance to turn over the market.

On the same day, the attorney general Pu Ling, who had just returned from Belgium at noon on January 7th, had introduced the latest development of the anti-dumping lawsuit. The "litigation materials" were submitted to the European Union Court in the Belgian capital of Brussels in December 29, 2006. The European Union Court has formally accepted the litigation request of Chinese footwear enterprises in December 29, 2006.

After that, there will be two rounds of defence.

The EU may support the EU Council as a third party, followed by oral defense. The total time is expected to be about two years. "

Wang Zhentao said, "we are not fighting for a lawsuit for any enterprise. We are fighting the lawsuit for the entire Chinese shoe making industry and millions of shoe makers in China. We are fighting this lawsuit for the Chinese footwear industry tomorrow.

Of course we all want to win, but even if we lose, we also let the EU countries hear the voice of Chinese shoe enterprises' defense, and let other countries in the world hear the voice of Chinese private enterprises.

Wang Xiaonan: editor in charge