Vietnam vows "appropriate action" in WTO shoe case

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam is monitoring China's dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against European Union duties on shoes and will take "appropriate action", a foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Tuesday without elaborating.

The EU's anti-dumping duties, first levied in 2006 and extended last December, also apply to certain types of Vietnamese-made footwear. "Vietnam is closely watching China's suit against the EU in the WTO for its anti-dumping duties on leather shoe exports and will take appropriate actions," Nguyen Phuong Nga said in a statement faxed to Reuters.

A Vietnamese shoe vendor waits for customers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, November 23, 2003. (REUTERS/Guang Niu/Files)

She repeated Hanoi's position against the EU's extension of anti-dumping duties, saying the decision was "not fair, not objective and not reflective of the realities of the business and production of shoes in Vietnam".

Vietnam joined the WTO three years ago and launched its first dispute at the global trade arbiter this month with a case against U.S. anti-dumping measures on its key exports of shrimps.

China launched its case against the EU on Feb. 4, and said in a filing it was seeking consultations.

Shoes produced in China and Vietnam are estimated to make up 30 percent of the EU market.

(Reporting by John Ruwitch; Editing by Sugita Katyal)

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