MONTREAL - The Shoe Manufacturers Association of Canada (SMAC) has filed a complaint based on the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). SMAC is requesting that CBSA re-investigate pricing of waterproof rubber footwear and bottoms exported or originating from the People's Republic of China and Vietnam.

"It is important to Canada to foster a fair and competitive marketplace and protect our domestic shoe industry," said George Hanna, president, SMAC. "Rubber footwear from these countries accounts for more than 25 million dollars in sales a year in Canada."

SMAC has filed previous complaints regarding Vietnamese and Chinese footwear imported to Canada with CBSA. The complaint in Canada was filed on behalf of Canada's waterproof rubber footwear manufacturers. Recently the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Peru are investigating or taking anti-dumping action into Vietnamese imported footwear. According to global market research, Vietnam and China are the largest exporters of footwear in the world.

The Anti-dumping and Countervailing Program, managed by CBSA, was put in place to provide help to Canadian manufacturers who face unfair foreign competition in the Canadian market place. The CBSA is responsible for the administration of the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA), which helps to protect Canadian industry from injury caused by the dumping and subsidizing of imported goods.