NTC says anti-dumping responsibility on coated paper board imposed; business seeks cautious tariff reforms
Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal. PHOTO: FACEBOOK
LAHORE:
Secretary of the Nationwide Tariff Fee (NTC) Khizar Hayat stated on Thursday that whereas customs duties are being progressively lowered underneath the Nationwide Tariff Coverage, all authorized safety mechanisms, together with anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures, stay obtainable to guard home business.
Talking at a gathering organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Business (LCCI), Hayat stated preparations for the upcoming federal finances had begun and that tariff-related suggestions could be finalised after consultations with stakeholders.
Based on an official assertion, he stated tariff discount underneath the Nationwide Tariff Coverage 2025-30 was a gradual five-year course of, not a one-off train, permitting business ample time to regulate. He added that the target of eliminating extra and regulatory duties was to take away distortions, tariff anomalies and pointless concessions, slightly than encourage imports.
Hayat knowledgeable individuals that anti-dumping duties on double-sided coated bleach board had been imposed since January 7, offering aid to the native paper business. He stated the NTC had acted inside the authorized framework, regardless that some circumstances had been underneath judicial evaluation.
LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol welcomed the NTC delegation and stated the Nationwide Tariff Coverage may assist industrial progress if applied rigorously, warning that hasty tariff cuts may hurt native producers. He highlighted the absence of clear tariff distinctions between uncooked supplies, semi-finished and completed items, saying this created unfair competitors and discouraged export-led progress.
He referred to as for a sector-wise method to tariff coverage, proposing zero % customs responsibility on uncooked supplies not produced regionally, whereas sustaining duties on completed items for not less than two years. He additionally urged time-bound safety for regionally produced uncooked supplies to advertise worth addition, whereas remaining compliant with IMF commitments.
