EU states oppose shoe import tax
Jim Whelan, Chief Executive of the Irish Fashion and Footwear Federation, has said that the EU Commission’s plan to add import taxes to shoes from China and Vietnam has suffered a setback because of the opposition of a majority of member states.
Fourteen EU countries, including Ireland, intend of voting against the proposal.
Footwear distributors have consistently opposed duties saying they would hit low income families, and as children’s footwear, currently excluded from the temporary scheme, was intended to be included in the new scheme, the proposed 16.5% duties would be a double blow to poorer families.
They would also wipe out the margins of retailers, according the the distributors.
