BRUSSELS, Dec 2 (Reuters) - European Union ministers are expected to vote to extend import duties on shoes from China and Vietnam, despite a rejection of the plan by a key EU trade panel, EU diplomats said on Wednesday.
The diplomats said Germany, Austria and Malta, which previously opposed the extension of 15 months, had decided to abstain from the vote scheduled for Dec. 22, leaving a majority of countries in favour of continuing the duties. (Reporting by Darren Ennis, editing by Dale Hudson) ((Reuters Messaging: darren.ennis.reuters.net@reuters.com; Email: darren.ennis@reuters.com; Tel: +32 2 287 6842))