ISLAMABAD: The government is preparing significant amendments to Pakistan’s anti-dumping laws to protect domestic industries from unfair competition posed by cheaper imported products.
The proposed changes aim to strengthen the collection of anti-dumping duties, tighten refund procedures and accelerate legal proceedings to make the existing regulatory framework more effective.
According to official documents, the proposed amendments would allow concerned parties to secure anti-dumping duty payments through bank guarantees or cash deposits, ensuring that the imposed duties can be recovered without unnecessary delays.
The government is also considering stricter conditions for refunds to prevent unnecessary repayments. Under the proposed mechanism, refunds would only be allowed after the National Tariff Commission (NTC) is satisfied that the financial burden of the anti-dumping duty has been passed on to the buyer.
The proposed amendments also seek to speed up the appeals process in anti-dumping cases. The relevant tribunal may be granted additional powers to ensure that pending cases are resolved promptly and legal proceedings do not face unnecessary delays.
Under the proposed changes, provisional anti-dumping duties could be imposed for a maximum period of four months, with a possible extension of another two months where necessary.
The primary objective of the proposed amendments is to protect local industries from damage caused by unfairly priced imported products, speed up investigations and bring Pakistan’s anti-dumping regulations in line with international standards.
The reforms also aim to strengthen the administrative and legal capacity of the National Tariff Commission, enabling it to investigate dumping complaints more efficiently and deliver timely decisions.
If implemented, the proposed amendments could improve the enforcement of anti-dumping duties, streamline refund procedures and provide greater protection to domestic manufacturers against unfair international trade practices.
