Vietnam rejects EU’s extended punitive taxes on shoes

Vietnam rejects EU’s extended punitive taxes on shoes

Vietnam has rejected the European Union’s extension of anti-dumping duties on its leather-capped shoes for 15 months, saying it is an unfair decision and does not reflect the reality of footwear production in the country. Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga voiced the protest after ambassadors of the EU member countries voted for the prolongation of the punitive taxes at a meeting on December 17. “The decision goes counter to the developments of friendly and co-operative relations between Vietnam and the European Union, and deeply disappoints the Government, businesses and workers of Vietnam,” she said. The spokeswoman affirmed Vietnam’s enterprises have not dumped leather-capped shoes on the European market. These companies have not intended and not been able to pursue this policy for such a long time because they are small and medium-sized businesses and have mainly done outwork for their foreign partners, including those from the EU. As the world economy is yet to fully recover, the EU’s extension of the penalty taxes will worsen difficulties facing Vietnamese businesses and workers, as well as continue to made the adverse impacts on European footwear producers operating in Vietnam and a large number of European consumers, she elaborated. The spokeswoman said Vietnam once more proposes that EU member nations and the European Commission consider the case objectively and fairly for the legitimate interests of Vietnamese businesses and workers, as well as of European companies and consumers and put an end to anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese leather-capped shoes. (VNA)

Prince Andrew to visit Vietnam

ANOI — Prince Andrew is to arrive in Vietnam on Monday to give a royal boost to his country's trade and investment profile, authorities said.

During his two-day trip, the prince is to meet Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and other officials, and visit Vietnamese and British businesses including Rolls-Royce and HSBC, UK Trade and Investment said in a statement.

His visit "aims to raise the UK's profile as a major trading and investment partner for Vietnam, highlight further investment opportunities for British companies in Vietnam, and encourage Vietnam to regard the UK as a main business gateway into Europe," it said.

Britain is communist Vietnam's third-largest European Union investor, with total projects worth 2.1 billion dollars, the agency said. Bilateral trade was worth more than 1.9 billion dollars last year.

Prince Andrew, Britiain's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, has made three previous visits to Vietnam over the past decade.