National Tariff Commission (NTC) has persistently pursued an anti-dumping duty case against a Pakistani exporting to Canada at the international level, which helped in winning the case against the exporting firm registered with the Canada Border Security Agency (CBSA).

It is learnt on Saturday that there was an allegation against Pakistani firm that 100 percent of imports of potassium silicate solids originating from Pakistan during the period of investigation were dumped and subsidised at margins as high as 119 percent and 64 percent, respectively.

The NTC continued to defend the case of Pakistani exporter at the competent forum of Canada.

As a result of the co-ordinated efforts between government institutions of both countries, the CBSA has given its decision in favour of the Pakistani exporter.

In its decision, the CBSA has determined that margin of dumping is zero percent and amount of subsidy is also zero percent, therefore, terminated the investigation against Pakistani imports in to Canada.

National Tariff Commission, Pakistan's trade defence law executing agency is mandated not only to provide defence through Anti-Dumping, Countervailing and Safeguard legislation's against imports in to Pakistan, but also plays key role in providing technical support to firms facing trade defence measures in Pakistan's trading partner countries, sources said.

The Canada Border Security Agency is the investigating authority of Canada under its trade defence laws ie Special Import Measures Act, 1985 (SIMA).

CBSA initiated investigation on January 6, 2012 in to alleged injurious dumping and subsidising of certain Potassium Silicate Solids that were being exported from Pakistan.

This investigation was initiated on the basis of written complaint received from National Silicate Partnership (NSP) of Etobicoke, Ontario Canada on December 5, 2011.

The product under investigation was Potassium Silicate Solids (potassium silicate flake chunk), is an organic, water-soluble chemical composition of all grades and ratios, originating in or exported from Pakistan.

This product is being produced at Captain-PQ Chemical Industries (Pvt) Limited Karachi and this company was alleged to be exporting Potassium Silicate Solids to Canada at dumped and subsidised price.

The applicant ie National Silicate Partnership (NSP) Canada, had stated in it's complaint filed with Canada Border Security Agency (CBSA) that 100% of imports of Potassium Silicate Solids originating from Pakistan during period of investigation were dumped and subsidised at margins as high as 119% and 64%, respectively.

However, the statement of reasons issued by CBSA on January 20, 2012, it mentioned that dumping margins has been estimated on the basis of information available to CBSA works out to 35.60% instead of 119%.

The applicant NSP further mentioned in its complaint that that estimated amount of subsidy to have benefited the exporting firm of Karachi works out to be 64%.

However, in statement of reasons issued by CBSA on January 20, 2012, it mentioned that amount of subsidy estimated by CBSA, on the information available to it works out to 4.1% of the export price.

As per the procedure under Special Import Measures Act, 1985, (SIMA), soon after initiation of anti-dumping and countervailing investigation, CBSA sent request for information to the government of Pakistan, asking for detailed information on 26 alleged subsidy programmes identified by it.

Sources said that the National Tariff Commission assisted the exporting firm and it's legal advisor firm RIAA Law and it's legal Counsel Mazhar Bangash in defending anti-dumping case before CBSA, Imran Zia, Director Anti-Dumping, NTC co-ordinated in preparing response on questionnaire given by CBSA, without whose timely input the case could have tilted against Pakistan as non-co-operative in providing required information.

NTC gathered requisite information regarding alleged 26 subsidy programmes from the relevant government ministries and departments ie MoC, BOI, FBR, TDAP and SBP and prepared the response of requisite information for the government of Pakistan, which was submitted to CBSA by February 13, 2012 deadline.

On the deadline date Pakistani exporting firm Captain-PQ Chemical Industries (Pvt) Limited Karachi, provided requisite information to CBSA for deciding the subsidy and countervailing investigation by 22, 2012.

Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) made a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the imports are harming Canadian producers and issued it's decision on March 26, 2012 that there is evidence that discloses a reasonable indication that dumping and subsidisation of Potassium Silicate Solids causes injury or are threatening to cause injury.

Both the exporting firm and government of Pakistan fully co-operated with CBSA and provided all requisite information and documentary evidence regarding alleged dumping and subsidising in response to its request for information.

The better co-ordination and mutual efforts among NTC, MoC, the exporter and embassy of Pakistan in Canada, the case was properly defended before CBSA.

The CBSA on April 23, issued a notice of termination of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation against imports of Potassium Silicate Solids from Pakistan and stated that CBSA is satisfied that the investigation has revealed that margins of dumping and amount of subsidy on the imports of subject goods from Pakistan are insignificant ie margin of dumping at zero percent and amount of subsidy of zero percent and is therefore, required to terminate the investigation.

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal injury inquiry proceedings will also cease as the result of the CBSA decision, sources added.