The European Union has yet to decide upon the extension of anti-dumping taxes on shoe imports from Vietnam and China, said EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton on Oct. 15.

EU member countries and concerned parties are discussing the issue, said the trade official.

Earlier, the European Commission had proposed that the penalty taxes on shoe imports from Vietnam and China be extended for at least 15 months.

Diplomats said the anti-dumping tax of 16.5 percent levied on Chinese shoe imports and 10 percent against Vietnamese shoes must be approved by a majority of the 27 EU member nations.

However, most of these countries, including Austria , Belgium , the UK , the Czech Republic , Cyprus , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , Germany , Ireland , Latvia , Luxemburg, Manta, the Netherlands , and Sweden , have protested the extension of the tariff barrier.

Only major shoe producers such as Italy , Spain , France and Poland , want to maintain the penalty taxes.

European footwear companies and organisations which are affected by the EC’s proposal must provide feedback before Ashton makes a decision when she attends a meeting of the EU anti-dumping committee later next month.

If adopted, the anti-dumping duties imposed on Chinese and Vietnamese shoe imports will take effect as of January 3, 2010./.