ISLAMABAD, Nov 18: The government has initiated an anti-dumping investigation against Malaysian exporters for allegedly dumping soap noodles into Pakistan, causing loss to local manufacturers.

The investigation has been initiated by the National Tariff Commission (NTC) on an application filed by the Nimir Industrial Chemicals Limited, Lahore; domestic producers of soap noodles.

In the notice of initiation, the NTC has asked the interested parties to apply for registration within 10 days after the publication of the notice.

As per procedures laid down in the ordinance and Antidumping Duties Rules, 2001, the NTC for the purposes of gathering information, will send questionnaires to exporters, foreign producers and importers of the investigated product, asking them to provide information within 37 days.

After due process, once the requisite information on questionnaires has been received from interested parties and examined, the NTC is expected to make a preliminary determination.

Under the ordinance, the NTC cannot make a preliminary determination sooner than 60 days from the date of initiation of investigation.

If an affirmative preliminary determination of dumping and injury (loss) is made, a provisional antidumping dumping duty (equal to the amount of dumping margin) may be applied for a period of four months.

According to NTC, soap noodles are allegedly being exported to Pakistan at dumped prices (prices less than the normal value of the product,

i.e., the prices at which

soap noodles are sold in Malaysia in the ordinary course of trade) by different exporters and producers from Malaysia and that such alleged dumping has allegedly caused and is causing injury to the domestic industry.

The National Tariff Commission has taken 24 anti-dumping actions under the ordinance so far and has imposed anti-dumping duties in 19 cases.

The products and the countries subject to antidumping duties are:

Tinplate from South Africa, Sorbitol 70pc solution from France and Indonesia, Glacial Acetic Acid from Taiwan, Acrylic Tow from Uzbekistan, PVC Resin (suspension grade) from Korea and Iran, Urea Formaldehyde Moulding Compound from China, Polyester Filament Yarn from Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea and Thailand, Phythalic Anhydride from India, Formic Acid from Germany and Finland, Tiles from China and Polyester Staple Fibre from Indonesia, Korea and Thailand.

Two investigations are under process i.e. Polyester Staple Fibre from China and seat belts parts/components from Korea.