Pakistan cement producer, Lucky Cement, has decided against revisiting its South African court challenge to the imposition of anti-dumping duties on Portland cement imports. Instead it has decided to rely on the Pakistan government to challenge the duties with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
This according to a news report on the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) website citing Muhammad Faisal, financial director of Lucky Cement, who confirmed that Pakistan had gone to the WTO (to rule) against the anti-dumping duties imposed by South Africa against exports from Pakistan.
“We believe that this matter will be better handled by the government of Pakistan and there is no need to go into litigation separately as a company at this juncture,” he said.
Last year the cement producer applied to the Gauteng North High Court for an order to set aside the imposition of provisional anti-dumping duties of between 14.3% and 77.2 % on Portland cement exported to SA out of Pakistan. The case was set aside as the provisional anti-dumping duties were for six months only and by the time the court date was set, the provisional time period had expired.
However, Itac made a final determination in December last year, imposing anti-dumping duties ranging from 14.29 % to 77.15 %.
According to Itac spokesperson, Foster Mohale, the duties will remain in place for a period of five years if no review of the duty rates is made by the relevant South African authorities.
