A European importers' association on September 11 urged the European Union to remove its anti-dumping duties against Vietnamese and Chinese leather shoes.

The move came just before the European Commission makes a decision on whether to prolong the measures.

“No prolongation, in whatever format the Commission may come up with, is acceptable for European retailers and importers," Jan Eggert, Secretary General of the Foreign Trade Association (FTA) was quoted as saying by the eubusiness.com online newspaper.

“Our members have been adversely affected by these unnecessary measures and I trust that (EU) member states will oppose any prolongation when they are called upon to vote,” chief of the FTA which represents European importers and retailers added.

The EU anti-dumping measures involve import duties of 10 percent on Vietnamese shoes with leather uppers and 16.5 percent on the same kind of shoes from China .

The anti-dumping measures have been a source of conflict between economically liberal states in the north of Europe and the protectionist, pro-EU production countries in the south.

An EC spokesman refused to comment on the FTA’s opinions and said that the final decision will be taken by the end of the year./.