20000107

Polyester fabrics quota WTO monitory body to hear Pak case against

Argentina on 17th

MUZAFFAR QURESHI

KARACHI: The Textile Monitoring Body (TMB) of World Trade Organisation will hear Pakistan's case against Argentina in Geneva on January 17, 2000 with regard to proposed imposition of quota on import of polyester fabrics (Category 613-617 and 627).

The Pakistani delegation to the Geneva meeting will be led by Naseem Qureshi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, and will include an official of the Textile Department of Export Promotion Bureau.

Pakistan after lodging a complaint against Argentinean intention presented its case in WTO in October last and had pleaded that the action was unjust as there was very marginal export in the category objected to by Argentina. In the meeting the Argentine delegation offered to allow import in certain categories except Cat-613-617 and 627. Pakistan however did not accept the offer and insisted for export of textiles in all categories as usual.

According to EPB sources Pakistan has a strong case and hopes to have Argentine action declared null and void by the TMB. The present trade balance is heavily in favour of Argentina while export from Pakistan in the disputed category is nominal.

The Argentine authorities sent a notice in July last year to the Pakistan government indicating their intention to put quota on import of polyester fabrics from Pakistan. The EPB however did not stop shipments in the said category and asked the exporters to inform Bureau about the quantity shipped in the category disputed by Argentina. The Customs in Argentina however did not stop any shipment from Pakistan and instead set up a system to monitor imports of polyester fabrics from Pakistan.

The textile categories mostly exported to Argentina are 218; 219-220, 224, 313-317, 613-617 and 627.