ISLAMABAD, April 6: The European Commission has expressed its willingness to initiate, without delay, a review of the 13.1 per cent anti-dumping duty imposed by it on Pakistani bedlinen.
Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan disclosed this while presiding over a meeting with representatives of the bedlinen industry here on Tuesday.
Also present in the meeting were commerce secretary Kamal Afsar, Export Promotion Bureau vice-chairman Tariq Iqbal Puri and the joint secretary (Textiles). The government of Pakistan, the minister stated, had given an aide-memoire on bilateral trade related issues to EU-troika during their recent visit to Pakistan.
After their return, EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy had sent a written reply on all the issues raised by Islamabad during the meeting with the troika and also indicated in the aide-memoire. Among other things, Mr Lamy had conveyed the Commission's readiness to review the action against Pakistan's exports of bedlinen.
During Tuesday's meeting, the European Commission's message was discussed in depth and the exporters' views thereon heard. It was decided, according to a official press release, to seek further information on various technical issues from Pakistan's Ambassador in Brussels.
Besides, the exporters would also discuss the offer with other stakeholders in order to arrive at a consensus. The final decision would be taken during the next meeting to be held within a fortnight.
