In order to cope with increasing competition on the international market and in response to EU action over Chinese footwear imports, a shoe and hat Chamber of Commerce has been established in Fujian, China. The organisation, which was officially opened on March 15, comprises approximately 100 large shoe-making factories and hat manufacturers.

Mr Xu Ming Hou, director of the new chamber of commerce, said that the chamber would focus its work on the effects of the duties imposed by the EU on Chinese shoes and would present its findings to the Fujian government.

The duties to be imposed on shoes made in China will impact Fujian’s shoe enterprises because up to now exports to the US and EU accounted for over 60% of the total province,” said an official of Fujian Foreign Economy and Trade Department.

Fuguiniao shoe company, which was recently named one of ten Kings of shoes” by China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), is one of the founding members of the chamber. A representative from the company said that it was planning to collaborate with nine other companies through the CLIA in order to resist the duties that have been imposed on Chinese footwear.

It has been reported that the ten largest footwear manufacturers including Aokang, Kang Nai, etc, will form an alliance in May in order to oppose the duties and it is believed that legal advice has already been sought.