Bedlinen Exporters Ready To Contest Anti-Dumping Duty Case

The private sector is on its toes to contest anti-dumping duty case at Brussels on import of bedlinen from Pakistan.

Five major associations, Pakistan Cloth Merchants Association (PCMA), All Pakistan Bedwear and Upholstery Association (Apbua), All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), All Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association (Apbea) and All Pakistan Cloth Exporters Association (Apcea) have hired the services of lawyers at Brussels to plead the case before the European Union officials.

These organisations have worked out a formula, on proportionate quota holding basis, to share the expenditure of the case.

Besides, these major trade organisations, several exporters dealing in this business have come up to fight the case in their individual capacity. Some of these are Younis Brothers, Gul Ahmed, Hussain Industries and Al-Karam Textile.

Chairman Apcma, Ahmed Chanai told Business Recorder that the traders' representative bodies are fully conscious of the gravity of the case and would not let it go unnoticed.

He dispelled the impression that Pakistan's private sector was not responding to government's efforts to protect national interest by fighting the anti-dumping case against Pakistan's bedlinen exports.

The European Union had imposed anti-dumping duty on Pakistan's bedlinen on the demand of its domestic industries last year, which has posed a serious threat to Pakistan's bedlinen exports, and served notices on all stakeholders in January this year.

The exporters here feel that in case the antidumping duty becomes a permanent feature it would hurt their business, not in EU only but also in other international markets.

Chanai recalled the private sector's efforts aimed to contesting the case. He said the lawyers hired by the exporters' organisations were in touch with the representatives and keep them abreast regarding any development.

The Apcma President said that the lawyers also remain in touch with Pakistan's mission in Belgium to get the guidelines from the government of Pakistan.

Some government officials gave the impression, while talking on the issue, that the private sector was hardly bothered about the fallout of anti-dumping duty on Pakistan's bedlinen.

Chanai hoped that Pakistan would win the case and keep on enjoying access to EU market.

Two hearings have been completed and the third was expected some time next month. The representatives of trade organisations believe that the outcome of the third hearing would be available to them within due course of time for their consumption.

On the instruction of the Ministry of Commerce, Export Promotion Bureau is co-ordinating among various stakeholders of this sector and a meeting is scheduled for January 20 to work out an effective strategy to deal with the anti-dumping regime and protect Pakistan's interest in the international market.