Wisal Monnoo Has Said NTC Shall Not Subject PSF Imports From China to Anti-Dumping Duty

The National Tariff Commission (NTC) shall not subject polyester staple fibre (PSF) imports from China to anti-dumping duty, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) acting chairman Wisal Monnoo has said.
 
He said NTC has accepted APTMA’s urge of not subjecting PSF imports from China to anti-dumping levy.
 
Based on application by local PSF industry, NTC subjected PSF import from China to anti-dumping investigation in June 2012.
 
In its representation in support of not levying anti-dumping duty on PSF imports, APTMA highlighted that PSF imports would lead to rise in textile imports, which in long-term would benefit the textile sector, as use of polyester is bound to rise.
 
PSF is a key industrial material used by the textile industry for adding value to export-oriented textile products. These value-added products reap billions of dollars worth foreign exchange due to enhanced competitiveness, Mr. Monnoo said.
 
Further, pointing at high competitiveness prevailing in the global market, Mr. Monnoo said the global textile industry operates with very low margins. To stand in this competitive market, it is necessary to allow import of PSF, as Pakistan’s domestic PSF output falls short by around 150,000 tons to cater to local annual demand of around 500,000 tons.
 
Anti-dumping duty imposition would impact the competitiveness of export-oriented textile products of Pakistan, and hence APTMA and other concerned parties were against the levy and presented their case before the NTC.
 
APTMA noted that as provisional anti-dumping levy on PSF imports continued for four months, this pushed up the import cost of PSF, as also domestic PSF producers raised their margins, making domestic PSF costlier.