The proposed tariff suggests 25 percent duty on woven fabrics, synthetic yarn and sewing thread, 20 percent duty on synthetic filament, synthetic staple and 10 percent on gimped yarn.
The duty proposed for other items include 25 percent on carpets, five percent and 20 percent on iron of non-alloy steel, 25 percent on ring and piston of vehicles, 25 percent on DC generators and motors not exceeding 750 W, 25 percent on colour TV sets, 100 percent on 1,000 cc cars, and 125 percent and 150 percent on cars of upto 1,800 cc and 60 percent on transport goods vehicles' parts and accessories for motor vehicles 25 percent.
The tariff structure has been circulated among the trade bodies by the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda), which is actively engaged in uplifting the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector as a vital organ of Pakistan economy.
Smeda Planning and Advocacy Policy Manager Mohammad Sajjad Moghal said in a letter to the trade bodies that the authority was trying to enhance performance of that sector by identifying structural, regulatory and legal impediments that continued to stifle the growth of the SMEs.
He said the SMEs had a significant role to play in the international trade. Therefore, multilateral trade agreements with regional blocks and bilateral agreements with individual countries were of paramount importance for increased participation of the SME sector in the international trade, he added.
The Smeda Policy Manager said the Pakistan government, being fully aware of the fact, was taking every possible initiative for facilitating participation of the SMEs in the foreign trade.
The government was in the process of negotiating Pak-Turkey PTA, and in this regard the Smeda received a wish list of Turkey regarding proposed import tariff structure from the Ministry of Industries and Production.
Trade bodies have been advised to send their comments on the proposed tariff structure by August 6, as their views would assist to structure a more suitable international trade regime.