Shoes from China and Vietnam will be affected
European Union duties of up to 20 per cent will be imposed on imports of shoes from China and Vietnam from today.
The decision comes after the European Commission said manufacturers in the Far East were receiving unfair government subsidies.
Tariffs for China will start at 4.8 per cent and increase steadily to a maximum of 19.4 per cent. Duties on Vietnamese shoes begin at 4.2 per cent and will rise to 16.8 per cent.
European Union countries approved the move last month.
According to the EU, Asian countries export 215 million pairs of shoes to Europe every year, selling them at a lower price than the cost of the materials and threatening the jobs of hundreds of European manufacturers.
The duties only cover leather shoes, while trainers and children's shoes are exempt, so only 9 per cent of the total shoe market is included.
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