Bloc may nail duties for 15 more months

In the latest anti-dumping case against China, the executive body of the European Union (EU) will submit a proposal this week to extend the duration of taxes on exports of Chinese as well as Vietnamese leather shoes, according to an unnamed Ministry of Commerce official.

News of the proposal comes as Premier Wen Jiabao criticized the international call for China to re-evaluate the yuan at the 12th China-EU Summit yesterday. He said it was unfair for nations to simultaneously employ protectionist measures on Chinese goods.

Trade experts and Chinese exporters are strongly against the proposal. They claim that the duties will eventually hurt European consumers.