Sweden calls for EU U-turn on trade tariffs

Sweden will call on the EU to overhaul its anti-dumping rules on Wednesday.

The Swedes will pressure EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson to avoid “mistaken” and counter-productive sanctions such as those taken against Chinese and Vietnamese shoe producers.

“I think it was a big mistake and it has really shown the problems of anti-dumping measures,” Swedish trade minister Thomas Östros said of the sanctions in an interview with the FT.

“Together with the textile row of last year, these two examples show that we have come to end of the road when it comes to using these kinds of protectionist measures.”

In a letter due to be sent to Brussels, Östros is set to underline the EU’s “anachronistic” reliance on anti-dumping action.

He will call on Mandelson to focus on boosting competitiveness instead of attempting to protect member states.

The call comes just a day after Chinese shoemakers met European officials and threatened legal action for the tarfifs.

Chinese companies say they are prepared to take the case to the WTO and ECJ.

The EU has until October 6 to decide on definitive measures, such as tariffs or quotas.

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