ISLAMABAD, May 5: Pakistan has asked the European Union to withdraw anti-dumping proceedings against Pakistani bed-linen immediately which was violative of the Doha round of trade negotiations.

Pakistan has also asked the WTO secretariat that textile and clothing sectors should also be liberalised like other sectors so that benefits of liberalisation are spread evenly.

According to a communication received from Brussels, Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan raised the issue of initiating anti-dumping proceedings on Pakistani bed-linen by the EU, in a meeting with Pascal Lamy, the EU Trade Commissioner.

He asked the EU trade commissioner to resolve the issue and reminded him that in terms of Doha round of trade negotiations back to back anti-dumping action should not be initiated.

The commerce minister also raised the issue of exceptional flexibility of 4,000MT of textile quota for the current year. Pascal Lamy assured the minister of due consideration on points raised by him.

The minister also apprised the EU Trade Commissioner of the liberalization of Trade Policies undertaken by Pakistan and appreciated increased market access for Pakistan’s exports to European Union.

In a meeting with Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, the director general of WTO, the minister expressed concern over the slow progress of negotiations in WTO on various issues particularly TRIPS and public health, S&D treatment for developing countries and agreement on agriculture which were of concern for the developing countries.

The minister also emphasized the need for transparency in the consultation process of WTO and made special mention of the concerns of developing countries.

The minister also raised the issue of technical assistance from WTO for capacity building in Pakistan on WTO issues. He also made similar request to Rubens Ricupero, Secretary General, UNCTAD who also met the minister. Humayun Akhtar, at the inaugural session of a “Conference On The Future of Textile and Clothing after 2005”, organized by EU Secretariat at Brussels, spoke from the developing countries’ perspective.

He emphasized that textile and clothing like all other sectors should also be liberalized and all efforts should be made that the benefits of this liberalization are spread evenly.