ANCI has been the driving force behind European union anti-dumping measures that have put tariffs of 16.5% on imports into the EU of shoes with leather uppers from China, and of 10% on leather footwear from Vietnam; it was largely research work carried out by the Italian association that convinced EU politicians that Chinese and Vietnamese footwear brands were receiving unfair help, making it financially viable for them to sell leather shoes for lower prices in export markets than the prices they charge domestically. Both Asian countries have denied any anti-competitive practice and have lobbied hard for the removal of the measures, which will remain in force in their current format until the end of March 2011.
At the start of this year, the president of ANCI, Vito Artioli, said his organisation was still concerned about unfair competition that Italian footwear brands area facing. He explained: It is fundamental for the European Commission to evaluate with the necessary objectivity whether the conditions exist as we believe [they do] beyond any question for renewing the anti-dumping duties on leather footwear coming from China, Vietnam and Macao, which will expire at the end of March. It is also a priority for our sector to restore the principle of transparency vis- -vis the consumer through approval of the mandatory origin labelling rules for goods imported into the European Union.
