The FM spokesperson made the affirmation in Hanoi on February 27 in reply to foreign correspondents’ queries on Vietnam’s reaction to the EC’s recommendation on the levy of anti-dumping tariffs on Vietnamese leather shoes and to the EU Commissioner’s statement saying that he would try to negotiate with Vietnam for a solution to the issue and that he welcomed signals of co-operation from Vietnam.

“We are willing to work with the EC to find a solution acceptable to both sides concerning the export of Vietnamese leather-capped shoes to the EU,” Mr Dzung said, adding, “We are waiting for an official announcement on the issue from the EC.”

He also reasserted that Vietnamese shoe makers did not dump their leather shoes into the EU.

“Vietnamese footwear enterprises operate in line with the law of the market economy; they are free to do their business and compete fairly with others,” the FM spokesperson stressed.

He also underlined that the Vietnamese Government does not interfere with nor subsidizes the operations of independent enterprises.

“Low production costs and utilization of modern technology are the advantages of Vietnamese businesses. Therefore, the conclusion on ‘the State’s intervention’ in the footwear industry is unfair and not in conformity with reality,” Mr Dzung said.