Pakistan challenges South African anti-dumping duty

In May 2015, South Africa imposed preliminary anti-dumping duty on Pakistani cement imports, a decision Pakistan has decided to challenge in the World Trade Organisation. The rates range from 15 – 68% and were based on South Africa’s view that Pakistani imports were harming the domestic industry.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce is reportedly arguing that the measures taken are inconsistent with provisions of the WTO agreement and that the analysis of the South African authorities is inconsistent with the actual situation, given that the investigation was conducted over an extended period of four years instead of the normal three years. They also argue that the investigation was limited to bagged cement and didn’t take into account domestic sales of bulk cement, and also that the South African authorities didn’t give Pakistani cement exporters the opportunity to fully defend themselves.

Pakistani cement exports to South Africa have declined since the duty was imposed. In the first instance, Pakistan’s Permanent Represenative to the WTO has written to his South African counterpart for formal consultations.

Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui

Sources:

• Pakistan Observer
• The News

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/indian-subcontinent/17112015/pakistan-challenges-south-african-anti-dumping-duty-5/