-3.
-
Yet, according to another source of information, the
Federation of European Footwear Manufacturers recently requested the
EEC Commission to adopt restrictive measures regarding the import of
footwear, one of which was to discontinue preferential treatment for
developing countries.
Footwear exporters therefore think that if the EEC grants
the request of the Federation of European Footwear Manufacturers, HK
will find that she has been rejoicing over nothing at all. By the
time HK gets the preferential treatment, the GSP may have been totally
cancelled by the EEC. Nevertheless, people in general think the EEC
Commission will not adopt any restrictive measures.
It is said the Federation of European Footwear Manufacturers
requested that the import of footwear be controlled because of the
increasing number of low-price shoes from the developing countries and
the difficulty they encountered in the purchase of leather.
According to statistics, only 80 million pairs of shoes, of
US$246 million's worth, were imported into the EEC in February 1972
while 165 million pairs, of US$667 million's worth, were exported in
the same month, showing a big excess of exports. However, imports have
increased while exports have decreased since the beginning of this year.
Low-price shoes are exported to EEC regions in large quantities, es-
pecially from Taiwan, Korea, HK, Yugoslavia, Brazil, India, Rumania and
Poland. On the other hand, South American countries impose restrictions
on the sale of leather abroad and this further increases the difficulties
of the shoe manufacturing trade in Europe.