Zhou Wei

Zhou Wei, a spokesman for Aokang, a big shoe manufacturer based in the eastern city of Wenzhou, said the new proposal was unacceptable and fundamentally no different from the preliminary anti-dumping measures.

One of China's main complaints is that the European Union does not regard it as a market economy.Without that status, Chinese exporters are more vulnerable to EU duties because the commission considers costs in other countries -- where they are often higher than in China -- when calculating if goods are being dumped in Europe.

"We will continue to fight for market economy status for our company and for the whole shoe-manufacturing industry of China, together with other Chinese shoe producers," Zhou said.

For people like Zhou Wei, a manager at the Aokang Group, China's second-largest shoemaking company, the constitutional amendment is imperative.

"It protects the confidence of the private businessmen so that they can pursue and create wealth," Zhou said.

For people like Zhou Wei, a manager at the Aokang Group, China's second-largest shoemaking company, the constitutional amendment is imperative.

For people like Zhou Wei, a manager at the Aokang Group, China's second-largest shoemaking company, the constitutional amendment is imperative.

"It protects the confidence of the private businessmen so that they can pursue and create wealth," Zhou said.