BEIJING, China (UPI) -- Beijing is warning the European Union of consequences for its decision to levy import tariffs on Chinese shoes.
The nation`s Ministry of Commerce said Monday that the decision to impose a 16.5-percent tariff will hurt European shoemakers that have invested in China and EU raw material suppliers, Shanghai Daily said.
'Many European shoe firms have established long-term partnerships with Chinese suppliers and invested in quality control, technical standards and staff training,' the ministry said in a statement on its Web site.
The EU`s anti-dumping duties, which began Saturday and last for two years, on Chinese shoes 'will disturb the long-term trade relationship and hurt EU firms that have invested in China.'
The ministry also said that Chinese shoemakers buy more than $600 million worth of raw materials from the EU every year, so the decision also affects EU suppliers.
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