The anti-dumping duty imposed on the export of bed-linen from Pakistan by the European Union (EU) is likely to be reduced before the quota-free regime commences from January 2005, sources at the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) revealed on Saturday.
Sources said that Pakistan has strongly pleaded to the EU to completely withdraw the duty, which was imposed without complete investigation by the EU team in March this year.
The Pakistan government has welcomed the early review of the duty initiated by EU, which is the realisation on their part that the basis on which the penal action has been taken is unjust.
The hopes emanated on the eve of selection of eight Pakistani exporters for sampling by the European Commission.
The textile exporters selected for sampling are: Gul Ahmed, Fairdeal, Al Abid, Chenab, Yonus Textile, Mohammad Farooq, Lucky Textiles and Nishat Textile.
The selection of exporters for sampling has been made after bed-linen exporters were asked to fill a questionnaire issued by the EU.
An EU investigation team will arrive in Pakistan on a date to be notified later to check the record of accounts, production, local sale price and export price of these exporters.
On the basis of the data acquired from these exporters the EU team would determine the average export price for the country and would decide the dumping margin.
The Official sources believe that the EU investigating team might arrive in the country by November 15 to check production and sales record of the selected exporters.
Pakistan in any way has requested the EU to complete investigation at the earliest so that the unforeseen disadvantage to the country's bed-linen export is eliminated to give the exporters a fair chance of competition in the post-quota phase.