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ISLAMABAD: The European Union EU has been asked to review the 13.1 percent anti-dumping duty imposed on Pakistan's bed-linen exports, Secretary Commerce Kamal Afsar informed Saturday.

Terming the duty as `unjust', which has become effective from March 5, the Secretary told a press conference here that "Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan has written to EU Trade Representative, Pascal Lamay in this regard."

Kamal Afsar said, we would take up this matter at all levels, as Pakistan's case is very strong. He was hopeful the matter would ultimately go in our favour, even if it is taken to appeal at Luxembourg and or taken up at WTO.

He said, there was a great demand of Pakistan's bed-linen in the EU market due to its quality and competitiveness, with around $ 1.1 billion overall export contribution last year including around $ 700 million only in EU countries.

The Secretary said, there have been chain investigations against Pakistan's bed-linen since 1994, as companies affected by Pak bed-linen products' exports in EU have been lodging such complaints.

To a question, Kamal said, owing to the global competitive trade era, Pakistan was focussing on preferential trade arrangements and regional trade arrangements, like South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), a draft agreement signed recently. He said, Pakistan and Iran have also signed a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), and the two sides would finalize the list of items and tariff matters within next two months.

Kamal said, Pak-Iran PTA will promote enhanced bilateral  trade, which is currently hovering around $ 400 million per annum, through preferential treatment to each others industries. To another query, he said, Pakistan has the most liberal trade and tariff regime, with high competitiveness and no non-tariff barriers in the region, adding, once there is a big market, we will benefit and Foreign Direct Investment will also make its way.

Secretary Kamal added Pakistan was fully TRIPS and TRIMS compliant, except in the automobile industry where there are still some deletion programmes.