West End letters: Syed Kamall | Conservative MEP | import taxes on shoes | tariff | China and Vietnam

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 9 October 2009

Footing the bill

• LONDONERS could keep paying more for their shoes following attempts by Mediterranean manufacturers of expensive branded shoes to extend import taxes on shoes into the European Union from China and Vietnam.
They want to keep European import tariffs of 16.5 per cent on shoes from China and 10 per cent on those from Vietnam, making shoes more expensive for families across London and Britain.
The capital’s consumers and local retailers are feeling the brunt of the duties at a time when other household bills are rising sharply and people are tightening their belts.
We should remember that open trade is good for all of us – as shoppers – as it keeps prices down.
Taxing imports and pretending globalisation has never happened will leave families across London, Britain and Europe all the poorer.
Syed Kamall
Conservative MEP for London
European Parliament, Belgium

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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