Viet Nam hails Canadian verdict on dumping charge


Ha Noi, Jan. 13 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's foreign ministry spokeswoman has described as correct the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT)'s verdict on the dumping charge against Viet Nam's exporters of water-proof footwear and footwear soles.

"This verdict has denied improper lawsuits filed by the Shoe Manufacturers' Association of Canada (SMAC) last March, and protected the legitimate interests of Vietnamese producers as well as shoe consumers, importers and distributors of Canada," spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh said.

In reply to an AFP query about Viet Nam's reaction to its clearance of the dumping charge, Thanh said "Regarding the SMAC's lawsuit against Vietnamese producers for dumping water-proof footwear and footwear soles exported to Canada, the CITT on Jan. 7, 2003 issued the final decision saying that the water-proof footwear and footwear soles imported from Viet Nam has not caused, or threatens to cause, material injury to Canada's shoe industry."

"With the CITT's decision, Canada has scrapped a punitive tariff imposed on imports of such products from Viet Nam, according to Canada's law," the spokewoman added.