ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: A two-day seminar on Anti-dumping Law and Practice for the benefit of industrialists and business firms commenced at the National Tariff Commission (NTC) here on Wednesday.

Addressing to nearly 25 participants on the history of trade negotiations starting in 1948 through 1995 signing of WTO agreements, NTC Chairman, Dr Faizullah Khilji said the number of countries taking recourse to the anti-dumping mechanisms provided under WTO agreements was on the increase.

This was due to increasing awareness about these agreements particularly among the developing countries. Previously, only the industrialized countries invoked these provisions.

In 1989, total 77 traditional users initiated 77 cases. By 2000, the number of cases mounted to 236. While the number of traditional users fluctuated, it peaked to 255 in 1992. A significant aspect was the steady rise in the number of new users. From only 19 in 1989, they proliferated to 181 in 1999.

Noteworthy was the increasing resort to anti-dumping law by India. In 1992-93, it initiated only two cases. By 2001-02, the number of cases emanating from India had risen to 30. In Pakistan, only one case has been handled by the NTC, therefore.

In reply to a question, the NTC chairman said most of the cases initiated by various firms had been successful.

Dr Khilji further observed that the litigation connected with trade disputes under anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguards agreements had opened vast avenues of employment in the member- countries. In Washington D.C. alone, there were 22 law firms specialising exclusively in anti-dumping law.

He also told the participants that Pakistan was a founder member of GATT which had come into being in 1948. Referring to the comments made by various quarters in the newspapers, he said that the signing of WTO agreements was voluntary. The number of their signatories since the first signing in April, 1994, had gone up over time, as other countries realised the benefits thereof.

The seminar is being conducted by senior officials of the NTC who received their training in Washington and Geneva. “We are quite at ease where technical expertise is concerned,” remarked Dr Khilji.

The seminar will conclude on Thursday.