作为双刃剑的反倾销调查

      译者按：对中国鞋的反倾销调查明摆着就是为了征收惩罚性关税，然而欧洲的品牌鞋不是欢呼却是表示严重的关注甚至是反对，为何？对于一个企业来说扩大它的销售有两个途径，一个是挤压竞争对手的份额，另外一个途径是共同把这个市场做大做旺，欧洲的品牌鞋可不希望这个市场由于中国鞋的退出而萎缩，这样的话，就是一个“全输”的结果，包括中国生产商、欧盟生产商与零售商。反观中国的运动鞋市场，虽然许多人都诟病中国运动鞋的发展同质化严重，但是它们请明星代言，花巨资在各种媒体上做推广，把市场搞得热火朝天，把这块蛋糕共同做大做强了，对大家都有好处，这是中国运动鞋制造商值得肯定的地方。

      布鲁塞尔，比利时--代表了许多在欧洲和全球得到高度认可品牌鞋的欧洲品牌鞋联盟  （EBFC）今天警告目前欧洲针对皮鞋的反倾销调查所带来的不利影响以及任何采取的反倾销措施所带来的损害。
      欧洲品牌鞋的成员就欧盟委员会调查的范围及如何的调查表示严重的关注，这包括：
      -  这个案子牵涉的范围太广，针对了所有从中国和越南进口的鞋子。各种质量档次的男鞋、女鞋和童鞋都将受到关税的影响，不管款式、质量或价格如何。
      - 委员会没有适当地缩小调查的范围以针对特定的鞋子，如果有以人为的低价在欧盟市场上不正当的倾销。
      - 调查的经济学基础存在不足，甚至未能考虑到开放市场的一些基本因素，比如说货币汇率的影响。
      - 欧洲的制鞋商不能够满足欧洲对高质量皮鞋的所有需求。
      如果采取反倾销措施，我们将看到以下的影响：
      - 对于欧盟的消费者而言，鞋子的价格将大幅的上升。
      - 欧盟消费者选择高质量、时尚且具有竞争力价格的机会将相当有限。
      - 较高的价格和有限的选择将导致鞋子销售额的下降，伤害已经处于困难中的欧盟零售商和相关的行业，并导致这些行业相应的失业。
      - 类似于欧盟委员会采取行动以后服装业所发生的问题，类似的贸易混乱将可能在欧盟成员国之间发生。
      代表EBFC讲话，Timberland欧洲公司的副总裁和总经理理查德.奥.诺克(Richard O Rourke)先生说:“我们已经从欧盟委员会对服装配额问题的不当处理上看到了在欧盟成员国之间设置贸易限制将对零售商和消费者产生非常不利的影响。不幸的是，眼下的皮鞋调查是建立在不恰当的基础之上，它将有可能引起鞋子价格的大幅上涨，并且限制欧盟消费者可以买到鞋子的款式。
      欧洲品牌鞋联盟的成员在欧盟鞋市场都有大量的投资，并且认为所有的生产商都应该公平的定价它们的产品，不能够倾销或者有其他禁止的不公平的贸易行为。
      然而，眼下的调查是在如此一个宽泛的范围里面拟定，它不能够有效地针对任何真正不公平的贸易行为。目前的调查将可能对欧盟的消费者和经济产生非常负面的影响，而且对于扩大欧盟鞋业生产商的生意没有多少机会，对于这些，我们表示严重的关注。”
      理查德.奥.诺克先生继续说，“欧洲品牌鞋联盟要求欧盟委员会尽快重新评估这个有争议的调查，立即采取措施限制这个调查可能给欧盟消费者带来的潜在损害。欧洲品牌鞋联盟欢迎成员国们对这项调查的价值作出认真的评估，并且向欧盟委员会表示它们的关注。”
      欧洲品牌鞋联盟是由在欧盟销售高档鞋的欧洲和全球著名制鞋公司组成，包括Clark s，ECCO， Timberland，Kenneth Cole，Caterpillar Footwear， Merrell，Rockport， Hush Puppies， Sebago， Teva，Ugg 和 Simple。
      （英文原文自PR Newswire，翻译：Rainpoem）

The European Branded Footwear Coalition Warns of Risks of Current EC Footwear Dumping Investigation
    Tuesday 20 September 2005, 14:13 GMT
    BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European Branded Footwear Coalition (EBFC), representing many highly regarded European and global footwear brands, today warned of the detrimental impact of the current European anti-dumping investigation being conducted targeting leather footwear and the harm that the imposition of any anti-dumping measures would have on the European Union. 
    The EBFC members have raised serious concerns with the Commission regarding the scope of the investigation and how it is being conducted, including:
- The case is overly broad and targets all leather footwear imported from China and Vietnam. Footwear for men, women and children of all quality levels would be affected by duties, regardless of style, quality or price.
- The Commission has not appropriately narrowed the scope of the investigation to target specific footwear, if any, being improperly dumped in the EU market at artificially low prices.
- The economic basis of the investigation is flawed and fails to consider even basic open market factors such as the impact of currency exchange rates.
- EU footwear producers cannot supply all of the European demand for high quality leather footwear.
    If anti-dumping measures are imposed, we can expect to see the following effects:
- Prices of footwear for European consumers will rise substantially;
- European consumer choice in high quality, fashionable footwear at competitive prices will be limited;
- Higher prices and limited selection will cause sales of footwear to fall, injuring already strained EU retailers and related industries with consequent job losses in those sectors; and
- Trade disruption to the EU Member States could occur similar to the problems recently experienced with apparel following the actions of the Commission.
    Speaking on behalf of the EBFC, Mr. Richard O Rourke, Vice President and General Manager of Europe for Timberland stated, "We have seen from the European Commission s mishandling of the apparel quota matter that establishing trade restrictions across EU Member States can have significant negative impact on retailers and consumers. Unfortunately, the current leather footwear investigation is improperly founded and has the potential to cause significant increases in footwear prices and to limit the styles of footwear that are available to the European consumer.
    Members of the EBFC have made significant investments in the EU footwear market and believe that all producers should price their products fairly and without the use of dumping or other prohibited unfair trade activities.
     However, the current investigation is so broadly framed that it cannot effectively target any actual unfair trade practices. We have grave concerns that the current investigation could have significant negative effects on European consumers and the economy and has little opportunity to enhance trade for European footwear manufacturers."
    Mr. O Rourke continued, "The EBFC calls on the European Commission to promptly reconsider this controversial investigation and take immediate steps to limit the potential harm that this investigation could cause for European consumers. EBFC encourages Member States to scrutinize the merits of this investigation and voice their concern to the Commission."
     The European Branded Footwear Coalition is comprised of prominent European and global footwear companies that market high-quality footwear in the European Union including Clark s, ECCO, Timberland, Kenneth Cole, Caterpillar Footwear, Merrell, Rockport, Hush Puppies, Sebago, Teva, Ugg and Simple