ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: The European Union (EU) member countries have given an assurance to Pakistan's official delegation that they will look into the levy of proposed anti-dumping duty on Pakistan's bedlinen.

According to an official announcement issued on Saturday, the delegation was informed by the officials in the EU capitals that the anti-dumping committee consists of technical officials and assured of looking into the matter in the light of the presentation made by the delegation.

Pakistan's delegation, led by Commerce secretary, Kamal Afsar, has returned after visiting eight EU capitals - London, Berlin, Vienna, Madrid, Dublin, the Hague, Paris and Brussels. The ambassador of Pakistan to WTO, vice chairman, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and three leading exporters of bedlinen were also included in the delegation.

The delegation presented Pakistan's case against the EU commission's proposal to impose anti-dumping duty on the export of bedlinen. The objective was to gain support from a majority of the EU member states in the meeting of anti-dumping committee of the EU on January 15, 2004.

The delegation also raised the issues of withdrawal of abatement of duty on super basmati rice which was withdrawn through a resolution of European Commission.

Pakistan has filed a review for the restoration of abatement of duty. The delegation also took up the issue of the withdrawal of GSP concession on Pakistani textile clothing and made-ups to be effective from January 2005.

The delegation informed the EU Commission that Pakistan was not satisfied with their calculations and desired that the calculations might be done in collaboration with Pakistani experts and emphasized that the GSP concessions may be given to Pakistan after due date.