Chinese shoemakers eye EU high-end market

"Those renowned European brands, like Sixty, Camel, and Wortmann, have shown great interest in cooperating with Aokang," Li said. "We want to focus on some orders with high standards, otherwise, the export of our products will surge."

Kameiduo Group Co Ltd, a leading supplier of women's shoes with more than 3,000 employees in southwest China's Sichuan province, faces a similar situation.

"The end of the anti-dumping measures may bring some advantages, but we still have to look for more reliable outlets, like industry transformation," Liu Ying, Assistant to the Chairman of Kameiduo Group, said.

"Even if production is based in China's far-western regions, the cost of shoe-making has continued to rise since 2008," said Liu. "The low-cost strategy does not make any sense."

Liu said that Chinese shoemakers do not have their own name brands and outstanding designs, elements that are attractive to European consumers.

His views are shared by Xu Yong, the deputy director of the China Light Industry Federation (CLIF).

"The transformation of China's shoe industry is inevitable. Shoes of good quality and exquisite design can be more competitive in the international market," said Xu.

Wei Yafei, a spokesman for the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), warned that the end of the anti-dumping duties should not mean domestic shoe-making enterprises can relax their vigilance. Wei says the EU could still consider a new round of footwear trade remedy investigations and protective measures.

"Chinese shoemakers ought to study shoe-exporting regulations and raise the products' quality and value added levels. Meanwhile, they have to strengthen cooperation and communication with European trade partners so as to make their products more popular in the European market," said Wei.