ISLAMABAD: The National Tariff Commission (NTC) is investigating dumping of four products including tin plate in Pakistan on the petition filed by the local industry.

During last five years, out of 24 antidumping investigations carried out by Commission, anti dumping duty on import of 19 products was imposed due to material injury to the local industry.

Some 5 investigations were called off without imposing antidumping duty, on the basis of Commission’s investigation that the domestic industry had not suffered material injury during the period of investigation.

Acting president NTC, Muhammad Ikram Arif and his experts briefed trade defence laws and their implications for the domestic industry. Arif informed the NTC has not received any fresh application from domestic industry against the Chinese imports for levying of anti-dumping duties or countervailing duties at the import stage.

Two items including tiles and Urea Formaldehyde Moulding Compound (UFMC) from China were subjected to duty. The domestic industry has not lodged complaint about the dumping of any Chinese products in Pakistan.

He said the review of anti-dumping duties was necessary in cases where five years has been completed since imposition of anti-dumping duties and the local industry has again approached the commission.

Ninety days before the expiry of five years, the commission initiate reviewing process. The anti-dumping reviews are full time investigation to ascertain the actual impact of anti-dumping duty levied on any item five years ago.

They said process of ‘chain circumstances review’ is being started in case of sorbitol. The ‘new shipper (exporter) review’ would be started on the import of tiles from China. The review of anti-dumping duty on the import of glacial acetic acid and acrylic tow has yet to be started, as there is some time for completion of five years since imposition of duty. The anti-dumping duties were levied on these imports from Taiwan and Uzbekistan respectively. The commission has started the review on the import of tin plates from South Africa as well.

He said the commission has earned Rs 400 million as anti-dumping duties imposed on 19 different products during the last five years. Out of the total amount, the commission has refunded Rs 30 million to the concerned importers. On an average basis, Rs 2.5 million is the cost of the investigation mainly bears by the NTC itself.

If preliminary duty is more than the final duty, the gap has to be refunded to exporter. Contrary to this, if preliminary duty is less than the final duty, the commission did not charge more from importer. Khizar Hayat, director of the NTC said the Pakistan’s domestic industry is being encouraged to make use of the remedies available under these laws if they are facing undue competition due to unfair trade or surge in imports from any country.

The Commission also helps domestic industry in handling cases initiated against them by investigating authorities of foreign government under the trade defence laws.

Industries facing problems of unfair trade practices of dumping and subsidisation are always welcomed at the Commission for assistance for redressal of unfair trade practices, Khizar Hayat added. staff report

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Source: www.dailytimes.com.pk