Shoe exports decline in first five months

China sold fewer shoes abroad in the first five months of 2008, due partly to reduced export-tax rebates, continuous renminbi appreciation, weaker demand from the United States and trade barriers such as anti-dumping lawsuits, state media quoted the General Administration of Customs as saying. Between January and May, China exported 3.39 billion pairs of shoes, a decline of 3.6% from the same period last year. But the export value rose 11.5%, to US$10.22 billion, as the average price per pair went up 15.8%, or US$3.