Peru Footwear Anti-Dumping Review Opens on Chinese Imports

Peru · Trade

Peru footwear anti-dumping duties face a formal sunset review after the country’s competition authority found that Chinese imports of the covered products surged 123.5% between 2022 and 2025, raising concerns that domestic producers could face renewed injury if the measures are lifted.

Peru footwear anti-dumping: Indecopi Launches Sunset Review

Peru’s National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property, known as Indecopi, has opened an official examination into whether anti-dumping duties on Chinese footwear should remain in place. The agency formalized the procedure through Resolution N.° 146-2026/CDB-INDECOPI.

This type of review, called an “examen por expiración de medidas” or sunset review, determines whether dumping and injury to domestic industry would likely resume if the duties expire. The current duties remain fully enforceable while the investigation proceeds.

The review was requested by the Corporación de Cuero, Calzado y Afines, a Peruvian leather and footwear industry group, alongside six companies operating in the sector. They petitioned Indecopi to extend the measures beyond their original five-year term.

Import Surge Triggers Action

The trigger for the review is stark. Imports of the footwear subject to the anti-dumping measure jumped 123.5% from 2022 to 2025. This sharp increase prompted Indecopi to examine whether the protective duties remain necessary.

Chinese suppliers continue to dominate Peru’s import market for these goods. On average, China represented 56.9% of Peru’s total import volume for the covered footwear during the same three-year period.

For international investors and expats following Peru’s trade policy, the figures signal that Chinese manufacturers maintain significant price advantages in the Andean nation’s market. The duties act as a counterweight to what domestic producers argue is unfair pricing.

Scope of the Measures

The anti-dumping duties apply to a broad range of footwear originating in China. All varieties are covered except chalas and sandalias, the Spanish terms for flip-flops and sandals.

The technical scope targets footwear with uppers made of rubber, plastic, or natural leather. This captures a wide segment of the everyday shoe market, from casual sneakers to formal leather shoes.

The exclusion of sandals narrows the measure’s reach slightly, but the remaining categories represent a substantial portion of Peru’s footwear import basket. Importers bringing in covered products should continue paying the applicable duties during the review period.

Procedure and Timeline

Interested parties now have a defined window to participate. Indecopi has set a six-month period for submitting evidence and arguments, with a possible three-month extension available.

This timeline gives foreign exporters, local importers, and domestic manufacturers time to build their cases. Legal representatives familiar with Peru’s trade remedy system note that the extension is not automatic and must be formally requested.

The process mirrors standard World Trade Organization guidelines for sunset reviews. Peru, as a WTO member, follows the framework that allows countries to maintain anti-dumping duties beyond five years if a review confirms that removing them would likely lead to continued or recurring dumping and injury.

Possible Outcomes

Two paths lie ahead. If Indecopi confirms that dumping and injury would likely recur without the duties, the agency may maintain the anti-dumping measures for an additional period. This would continue to shield domestic producers from what they view as unfairly priced Chinese imports.

Alternatively, if the evidence does not support a finding of likely recurrence, Indecopi could lift the duties entirely. That outcome would likely reduce costs for Peruvian importers and potentially lower retail prices for consumers.

A final decision is not expected until the review runs its course, which could take up to nine months if the extension is granted. Market participants should monitor Indecopi’s public announcements for procedural milestones.

Separate from Textile Sneaker Case

This proceeding is distinct from an earlier Indecopi case involving textile-upper sneakers from China. In that separate matter, the agency had imposed anti-dumping duties in 2024, but the appellate chamber later revoked them in early 2026.

The revocation in the textile sneaker case demonstrates that Peru’s trade remedy system includes checks and balances. Initial determinations by Indecopi’s technical body can be overturned by higher review chambers.

For the current footwear review, the final outcome will depend on the specific evidence submitted regarding rubber, plastic, and leather-upper shoes. The earlier textile case does not set a binding precedent, but it shows that outcomes are not predetermined.

Frequently Asked Questions

What triggered Peru’s footwear anti-dumping review?

Chinese imports of the covered footwear surged 123.5% between 2022 and 2025, and China held a 56.9% average share of Peru’s import volume for these products during that period.

Which footwear products are covered by the duties?

All varieties of footwear with uppers of rubber, plastic, or natural leather originating in China are covered, except sandals and flip-flops.

How long will the sunset review take?

Interested parties have six months to submit evidence, with a possible three-month extension, meaning the review could last up to nine months before a final decision.