Firm Lobbying and EU Trade Policy Making : Reflections on the Anti-Dumping Case Against Chinese and Vietnamese Shoes (2005-2011)

It is an accepted view in the trade policy literature that those who lose from external trade are much more easily mobilized politically than those benefiting from it. As a consequence, the argument goes, there is an over-representation of protectionist interests in the political arena and a persistent pressure on policy-makers to shield their markets from foreign competition. However, I argue that under certain circumstances import-dependent firms may very well be able and willing to mobilize politically and defend their anti-protectionist trade interests in the political arena. I will use the recent EU anti-dumping case against Chinese and Vietnamese shoes to illustrate my argument