World Footwear

European Union

Majority of EU countries approve the Mercosur trade deal

Jan 14, 2026 / European Union
A qualified majority of EU states have given the green light for the bloc to sign its largest free trade agreement with the South American bloc Mercosur, 25 years after negotiations began

Cotance and industriAll Europe outline roadmap for the EU leather sector

Jan 2, 2026 / European Union
Cotance and industriAll Europe have adopted a new Social Dialogue Work Programme 2026-2030. This is aimed at strengthening the skills, sustainability and competitiveness of the EU leather industry

EU to apply a 3-euro customs duty to e-commerce parcels under 150 euros

Dec 19, 2025 / European Union
A 3-euro customs duty is to be introduced on low-value parcels arriving in the European Union. This move is part of a strategy to reduce the influx of cheap e-commerce imports, such as those sold by online retailers Shein and Temu

Future of the footwear industry discussed at Porto conference

Dec 5, 2025 / Portugal
An international conference dedicated to the future of the Portuguese and European footwear industries was held as part of the FAIST project on the 18th and 19th of November

EU Parliament approves one-year postponement of EUDR start date

Dec 2, 2025 / European Union
The European Parliament has approved the Council’s proposal to postpone the EU Deforestation Regulation’s entry into force by one year, a move intended to simplify due diligence requirements for all stakeholders

Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano, from COTANCE: we are working on the regulatory areas that will shape future markets

Premium ContentNov 24, 2025 / Belgium
We spoke to Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano, who has been the Secretary General at COTANCE for more than 30 years. We discussed some of the critical issues around the European leather industry, including traceability standards and material metrics

European business associations urge EU-Mercosur ratification amid debate

Oct 16, 2025 / CEC
Twenty-six European business associations, including CEC, representing a variety of industries, are calling for the swift ratification of the EU-Mercosur agreement, as the bill has now entered the European Parliament

EU–Indonesia FTA set to create a level playing field in footwear trade

Oct 7, 2025 / European Union
Following almost a decade of negotiations, the recently signed agreement will reduce tariffs on most goods, thereby enhancing the EU’s competitiveness and establishing fairer conditions on the footwear market. We spoke to Carmen Arias, Secretary General of the European Footwear Confederation (CEC)

Terry Boyle from Trove: regulation is shifting in favour of recommerce

Premium ContentOct 6, 2025 / United States
In the second part of his interview, Terry Boyle, CEO at Trove, discussed how regulatory changes in the United States and the European Union are influencing the recommerce business, particularly for fashion and footwear brands

CEC calls for stronger EU rules to ensure safe and fair e-commerce

Sep 24, 2025 / CEC
The European Footwear Confederation (CEC) has joined forces with 64 NGOs and industry, retail and consumer organisations to urge the EU to address loopholes in online marketplace trade and protect consumers

Footwear as a Medical Device in the EU: Can classifying shoes as medical devices unlock new opportunities?

Premium ContentSep 15, 2025 / World Footwear Reports
JUST RELEASED! Read the latest World Footwear Innovation Paper on footwear as a medical device within the European Union. Learn more about the EU's regulatory framework, the challenges and opportunities for footwear businesses

EU footwear industry may gain from Trump’s tariffs

Aug 5, 2025 / European Union
Countries such as Portugal and Spain could benefit from Trump’s latest tariff policies, as the EU is the least penalised region, with tariffs of only 15%, which do not accumulate with historical tariffs

US-EU framework tariff deal reached just ahead of deadline

Jul 28, 2025 / United States
The US will impose a 15% tariff on most EU imports, half the rate initially threatened. The deal includes 600 billion USD of EU investment in the US and 750 billion USD of EU purchases of American energy and defence products

Trump intensifies trade tensions with the EU and Mexico

Jul 15, 2025 / United States
Tensions are rising over trade after US President Donald Trump sent letters to the European Union (EU) and Mexico threatening to impose a 30% tariff on their goods from the 1st of August

EU retreats from proposed Green Claims Directive

Jul 1, 2025 / European Union
The European Commission has announced its intention to withdraw the EU Green Claims Directive, just days before the final negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council were set to begin
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