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Circumvention allegation

Pakistan to take its

case to WTO next week

IKRAMUL HAQ

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan goes to WTO next week against the US decision to cut Pakistan's quota of category 361 (Bedsheets) on charge of cricumvention, informed sources told Business Recorder.

The commerce ministry has almost finalised its case. Pakistan Ambassador in Geneva will move the Textile Management Board next week.

The board it is learnt will hold day to day hearing and give its judgement in a few days.

It may be recalled that America has cut nearly seven lakh pieces of bedsheets from Pakistan's quota of 2.5 million pieces on the charge of circumvention.

Their stand is that a Bangladesh party was used as a conduit for transhipment of the goods from a third country.

Already a similar charge by the Amercians against Pakistan stands and will also be taken up during the Textile Management Board's hearings.

It is learnt that the Americans have appreciated that Pakistan made "comprehensive and indepth investigations" into the charge, but they remained unconvinced.

It may be recalled that during bilateral negotiations with the US trade representative team in Washington, Pakistan had sought certain pertinent clarifications and documents of US customs. But to no avail. The Pakistani team wanted to know the country of origin, reports of laboratory tests, number of bedsheets which were fitted or unfitted and allied matters, but the US did not respond.

The Textile Management Board has a Pakistani as its member but he can oly observe and not participate in the hearing because Pakistan is a complainant in the case.