February 26, 2006: We deserve
to know why Mandelson's making us pay more for shoes
Commissioner
must tread carefully
Brussels, 23 February 2006 -- Robert Sturdy
MEP, Conservative trade spokesman in the European Parliament, today
called for Peter Mandelson to come clean on the reasons for his
decision to penalise Chinese and Vietnamese shoemakers.
He said:
"British companies have adapted to the new realities in international
trade and invested heavily in Asia. We all wear them: 70% of shoes
sold in the UK come from Vietnam and China. This decision will
make some shoes much more expensive so he needs to explain himself.
If,
as Mr Mandelson claims, these measures are intended to stop unfair
trading and not to prop up inefficient Mediterranean producers,
he needs to make the evidence for this available.
Dumping means
selling goods for less than the cost of production and Peter Mandelson
is entitled to step in to stop this. The question is whether he
is doing this in our interests or those of a small number of Mediterranean
producers.
We must accept that Asian countries make cheaper
shoes than we can in Europe and find ways for European and Asian
businesses to work together rather than just impose barriers.
He's
exempted children's shoes and running shoes because they're not
made in Europe but what about European companies who have invested
in the Far East?
The 'bra wars' saga showed what happened when
the EU gets it wrong and Commissioner Mandelson shouldn't allow
himself to be influenced by a bunch of Mediterranean cobblers.
Is Mr Mandelson really concerned about the reasons for Asia's booming
footwear industry or is he just trying to save Italian soles?"
