In January last, The EC had imposed 13.1 percent duty on Pakistani bed linen whereas February saw imposition of a 15 percent anti-dumping duty on the import of pet resin from Pakistan..
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But in a new development, the EC has hinted at reducing anti-dumping duty on bed linen to six percent and on pet resin to four percent, stated the official. .
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He informed that Pakistan trade representative at Brussels Tariq Iqbal Puri, in a letter addressed to Humayun Akhtar Khan, the federal commerce minister, had mentioned this matter. The European Union (EU), following the induction of 10 more countries is expected to review its decision due to the margin of dumping naturally coming down. He also said that Islamabad had formally requested the EC to convene a review meeting on the subject, but dates were yet to be finalized. On being questioned about the government move at WTO Dispute Settlement Board for the removal of duty on bed linen and pet resin, the official conveyed that a final decision would be arrived after due consultations with exporters as the government is concerned. .
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When textile quotas would be lifted on January 1, 2005, the official said, the anti-dumping duty would adversely affect bed linen exports terming EU action to impose duty was unfair. The commission had not completed its investigation on bed linen so far, but it imposed the anti-dumping duty against the local industry. The EU had investigated Gul Ahmad Textile case and the Abid Mills case was underway. Bed linen is a major export item from Pakistan to the EU. .
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Pakistan has seen a substantial rise in volumes of its exports from $230 million in 2001 to $345 million in 2003. As far as duty on pet resin is concerned, the EC imposed the provisional 15 percent duty against Pakistan on February 19, 2004. Pakistan has already asked the EC to review its decision on pet resin. .
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The official said that two Karachi-based units including Gatron Industries and Novatex Industries, which export 70,000 tons of pet resin worth 60 million euros per annum to the EU, were also under the EC scanner for dumping in September 2003.
“Both the local companies would contest the case even if the duty is lowered to four percent,” said the official. He also informed that the EC had earlier imposed anti-dumping duty ranging from 8.6 percent to 17.5 percent against two Australian firms while it had imposed 17 percent to 29 percent duty against several Chinese companies. .
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Source: Fiber2fashion.com
Date:6/10/2004
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