According to hidenet.com, 15 EU member states voted against the proposed extension of the measures, ten voted for it and two abstained from voting. ‘This is a major setback for the Commission and a great success for the FTA’, said Jan Eggert, secretary general of the Foreign Trade Association that represents importers and retailers in Europe. ‘The Commission has been determined from the very beginning to see these duties continue, despite the negative impact they have had on our members, and we have work hard to achieve today’s result.’
However, last Thursday’s vote is not the end of the process, as the issue will now go to the Member States Council for the final vote. The vote is expected to take place around December 20.
EU figures show that the duties typically add $2.60 to the cost of a pair of imported leather shoes.
