ISLAMABAD, March 19: The National Tariff Commission (NTC) has issued a notice of investigation into a complaint that South African exporters of tin plate of a certain specification are marketing the product in Pakistan at rates amounting to dumping, according to an official source.

The purpose of the investigation, as provided in Anti-dumping Duties Ordinance 2000, is to determine the normal value of the product in the domestic market of the exporting country. If it is found that there had been an attempt to dump the product, the commission would analyse the data and determine the level of tariff to be levied thereon on the basis thereof.

The complainants are Siddiqsons Tinplate (Pvt) Ltd., Karachi, and the product referred to is Electrolytic Tin-plate (ETP) of a width of 600mm or more, of a thickness not less than 0.5mm, classified under Pakistan Customs Tariff Code 7210.1200.

The National Tariff Commission, acting under section 27 of the Anti-dumping Duties Ordinance 2000, has also sent questionnaires to the exporter(s) in South Africa as well as its importers in Pakistan in order to allow them an opportunity to submit requisite information. They have been given 37 days within which they must submit their reply with the relevant data to the NTC.

In cases where an interested party refuses access to, or otherwise does not provide required information within the time limit, or significantly impedes the investigation, the commission is empowered to make the preliminary or final determination on the basis of best information available in accordance with section 32 of the Anti-dumping Ordinance and the schedule attached thereto.

After preliminary determination, the commission may, on the request by an interested party, make not later than 30 days after publication of a notice of preliminary determination, hold a hearing.

On that occasion, all the interested parties would be allowed to present information and arguments on the matter under investigation.