/ 1 January 2002

Pakistan slaps penalty on SA for dumping tin

Pakistan has taken its first ever anti-dumping action by imposing punitive taxes on tin imports from South Africa.

Pakistan has taken its first ever anti-dumping action by imposing punitive taxes on tin imports from South Africa, trade minister Abdul Razak Dawood said here on Tuesday.

The move was in line with Pakistan’s recent anti-dumping laws, Dawood said.

A penalty tax of 23% has been slapped on the South

African imports.

”This is the first ever anti-dumping action in the history of Pakistan,” Dawood told reporters here, adding that South Africa could appeal.

”We do not mind competition, but we will just not tolerate unfair competition.”

Trade Secretary Qamar Beg said the anti-dumping action was taken ”a couple of days ago” following complaints that South Africans were selling tin sheets here at prices below South Africa’s

domestic market prices.

”What we have imposed is a provisional 23% tax and they have 90 days to appeal,” Beg said. ”Thereafter, we will decide what further action should be taken.”

Beg said tin imports from South Africa accounted for about 36% of Pakistan’s tin sheet market.

He did not say what impact the cheap imports had on local production. – Sapa-AFP