United States instead of Europe has now become the largest market for Pakistani bedwear. Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association Chairman, Shabbir Ahmad told a private TV channel that the exports to the European Union fell in the wake of anti-dumping duty, slapped on Pakistan bed linen in 2004.
He said that earlier 40 percent bedwear was exported to Europe, while 30 percent to US. But the situation now was the other way round.
During the first nine months of the current fiscal year, bedwear worth nearly $1.5 billion exported was 59 percent higher as compared to the same period previous year, he added.
He said, US import duty on Pakistan bedwear stood at 7.5 percent, while in the European Union this rate including the anti-dumping duty shoot up to 16 percent.
Recently, EU had slashed the duty on Pakistan bed linen from 13.1 percent to 5.8 percent, which came into force since previous week. Its benefits would unfold in future, Shabbir Ahmad added.