RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI  (January 18, 2011) : An emergency meeting of textile exports has been called at Trade Development Authority (TDAP) to discus Turkey's move to increase anti dumping duty on garments and fabric, imposed on many countries including Pakistan to protect their local fabric and garment industry.
Talking to business Recorder, Advisor Ministry of Textile, Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig said that due to this move of Turkey, over 400 million dollars export order from Turkey has been blocked including around 150 million dollars of garment and fabric. He said that Turkey is likely to increase antidumping duty from present 9.5 percent to 52 percent on garments and 6.4 percent to 35 percent on fabric imposed by Turkey on many countries including Pakistan to protect their local fabric and garment industry.

He informed that a meeting of the Consuls of Minister, Government of Turkey is scheduled for January 18, 2011 to discuss the increase in antidumping duty. He urged the counsel of ministers to postpone the meeting and hold a meeting with Pakistan representative body before making any decision. He also urged his counterpart in Turkey to approach Consuls of Minister, Government of Turkey to defer the meeting.

In a press statement, Dr Baig informed that he has approached Federation of Turkey Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) and Pakistan mission in Turkey to arrange a meeting of Pakistan representative with Turkish Prime Minister to discuss the issue and reach an amicable solution. He said that a delegation comprising of TDAP chief, himself and representatives of related trade bodies will soon leave for Turkey and hold meeting with concerned authorities on the issue.

He reminded that said in the last Pakistan-Turkey CEO Forum held in Islamabad under the leadership of President of Turkey and Prime Minister of Pakistan, it was agreed to enhance the volume of the bilateral trade between the two countries to the level of US dollars two billion. Both the countries are also working for signing of PTA and FTA and facilitate land route trade for enhancement of bilateral trade but the present imposition of duty negates said efforts.

The advisor, in a recent meeting with President FPCCI, Senator Ghulam Ali at the federation's office, proposed to take a private sector high power delegation to Turkey to discuss the withdrawal of the antidumping duty. He had requested President of Turkey Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TOBB) to intervene and arrange meeting with the Prime Minister of Turkey on this issue. He also requested the Prime Minister of Pakistan to intervene and take up the issue with his counterpart on most urgent basis.