Renowned international law consulting firm operating in USA and EU - M/s Sidley Austin Brown and Wood USA - Consultant Brenda Jacobs stated this while talking to newsmen after a seminar on Anti-Dumping Issues on Textile Exports organised by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) here on Tuesday.
She said Pakistani exporters should take steps to minimise the impact of anti-dumping duty. Pakistan had already been given many benefits in the backdrop of 9/11 because it was a good friend of America and ally in the war against terrorism, she added. A bill relating to GSP Plus had been moved in the US congress to provide duty free access to 25 countries those were badly hit by the tsunami, she said and added it would take some time as process of legislation in the US usually took long time.
Though, the US had great sympathies with Pakistan, especially, due to earthquake but it could not overtake protection provided to industry in the US, she maintained.
Speaking on the occasion, Sidley Austin Brown and Wood LLP Arnold R William said European Union reconsidered GSP rules about half and year ago and decided to impose 10.5 per cent anti dumping duty. However, the EU might once again revise its GSP rules in January 2006, he added.
In order to educate textile exporters on provision and other related issues, the speakers including Brenda A Jacobs and Arnold R Williams highlighted anti dumping legislation, its concept methodology and possible impact on exporting and importing states with special reference to Pakistan. They laid special emphasis on threat of anti dumping duties and apprised the participants of legislation, its time frame and requisite steps to be kept in mind in that regard.
Brenda spoke on peculiar nature of procedures adopted in the US and emphasised the need of threat perceptions and verifiable record to counter the proposed investigations with special reference to that of Department of Commerce.
On the occasion, Aptma - WTO wing Chairman Akbar Sheikh raised the issues tending possible threat to textile industry of Pakistan in the wake of WTO regime.