A key panel of European Union trade officials has voted to reject a European Commission proposal to extend dumping duties on shoes from China.

During the voting, 15 member states opposed the plan, 10 supported the Commission, and two countries abstained. In October last year, the Commission extended duties of up to 16.5 percent on imports of Chinese leather shoes. The panel concluded that the duties were hurting European consumers by forcing them to pay higher prices.

The EU's executive Commission still intends to put the proposal to a vote of ministers next month despite the defeat in the anti-dumping committee.

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