The customs commission undertakes to correct the anomalies

KARACHI:

National Tariff Commission (NTC) chairman Naeem Anwar has assured businessmen that an NTC team in Islamabad will look into the issues highlighted by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and recommendations will be given to the government to rectify them in the federal budget for 2024-25.

Addressing a meeting during his visit to KCCI, he advised the chamber to submit details of all matters in writing along with budget proposals at the earliest, according to a statement issued on Monday. At the meeting, businessmen pointed out the challenges like irregularities in import-export duties, anti-dumping duties and other countervailing measures.

“Irrespective of who the KCCI sends its budget proposals to in Islamabad, they are forwarded to the NTC for review by the committee’s technical team, which carefully analyse, assess the implications and, if deemed favorable to the economy, forward them to the government for inclusion . in the budget,” Anwar said.

He pointed out that the NTC, which operated under the NTC Act 2015, was bound to effectively implement three of its laws, which included the Anti-Dumping Act, the Subsidies and Countervailing Act and safeguards to ensure the development of domestic industry. supporting the manufacturing sector and preventing unfair trade practices in imports.

He said the budgeting process was currently underway at the NTC, which was receiving proposals from various stakeholders, however he felt it necessary to visit KCCI to have face-to-face interaction with the business community to discuss and better understand the tariffs them- related challenges and look for suggestions.

Responding to a question, the NTC chairman said that “once a case is approved by the NTC, it leads to the imposition of an anti-dumping duty for a period of five years, which can range from 5% to 60% and discourages imports of a particular product to support domestic industry”.

“Similar is the case with countervailing measures as they are also imposed for a period of five years,” he said, adding that thanks to the NTC’s anti-dumping and countervailing laws, several businesses had seen good growth.

After hearing the difficulties faced by the representatives of the paper and packaging industry, yarn traders, automobile industry and others, he advised them to sit with the NTC team in Islamabad to discuss in detail all the issues arising due to unfair tariffs so that they can reviewed and relief could be provided where needed.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd2024.

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