ISLAMABAD, March 6: National Tariff Commission (NTC) has initiated an investigation into alleged dumping of Sorbitol, an ingredient of pharmaceutical products, etc., by the exporters from France and Indonesia.
In this connection, NTC has published a notice in the press following the receipt of an application from Habib Arkady Ltd, local sole producers of Sorbitol.
The applicant alleged that Roquette Freres of France and P.T. Sorini Corporation of Indonesia were exporting the ingredient at prices lower than its normal value and causing material injury to the domestic industry by such tactics as price undercutting, price depression resulting in loss of market share and resultant losses.
This is the second antidumping case investigated by the Commission since Pakistan, as a member of the World Trade Organization, enacted the Antidumping Duties Ordinance, 2000. Last November, NTC had issued its final determination on a complaint about dumping of tinplate of used in vanaspati ghee packs against an exporter of South Africa, resulting in the imposition of antidumping duties.
According to the NTC’s commission, Sorbitol, a sweetener in solution form, classified under Pakistan Customs Tariff Codes 2905.4400 and 3824.6000, is allegedly exported to Pakistan at prices lower than the normal value of the product, i.e. price at which it sells in France and Indonesia in the ordinance course of trade.
An analysis of the official statistics shows that Pakistan imported 3,294.77 tons of sorbitol in 1999-2000, 3074.59 tons in 2000-01, 2209.67 tons in 2001-02 and 2070.95 tons in the second half of 2002.
The combined imports of sorbitol from France and Indonesia accounted for about 85 per cent, 94.10pc, 96.68pc and 88.33 per cent, respectively, of total imports.
Interestingly, Indonesia itself had imposed an antidumping duty of 153pc on the import of sorbitol from EU on March 12, 2001.
Proceeding under section 23 of the Antidumping Duties Ordinance, 2000, in the case involving Sorbitol, National Tariff Commission in its notice has asked the interested parties including the exporters to apply within 10 days for registration. Such registration will entitle them to get all the information relevant to the hearings, to be heard by the commission and to obtain access to the public file opened by the commission relating to the case.