ISLAMABAD, May 12: The National Tariff Commission (NTC) has started an anti-dumping investigation against alleged dumping of polyester filament yarn (PFY) into Pakistan by exporters from Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand.

An official announcement here on Thursday said the NTC was empowered under the Anti-dumping Duties Ordinance, 2000 to carry out anti-dumping investigation and if an affirmative final determination of dumping and injury was made, also to impose appropriate anti-dumping duty.

The investigation has been initiated in response to an application filed by the Filament Yarn Manufacturing Association (FYMA) — an association of domestic producers of PFY.

Under 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 the procedures laid down in the ordinance and anti-dumping duties rules, 2001, the NTC for the purposes of gathering information was expected to send questionnaires to the known exporters, foreign producers and importers of the investigated product, asking them provide information within 37 days.

After receiving information through questionnaire from interested parties and examined by the NTC, the commission was expected to make preliminary determination. If an affirmative preliminary determination of dumping and injury was made, then a provisional anti-dumping duty (equal to the amount of dumping margin) may be applied for a period of four months.

The statistics showed that the import of PFY — used as a raw material in the manufacturing of textile fabrics and garments — increased to 50,226 tons during the year 2003-04, from 36,411 tons during the year 2001-02.