KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs department not to take any adverse action against the petitioners for the recovery of impugned demand till the next date of hearing on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Bashir Pipe Industries Private Limited and other importers against impugned recovery of anti-dumping duties.
On June 19, 2019, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi also issued notices to the customs officials and directed them to file their para wise comments on next date of hearing.
During the hearing, counsel for M/s Ruby Steel Corporation, M/s Imran Enterprises , M/s A & A Pipe Industries, M/s Eagle Pipe Industries and others argued that petitioners are engaged in the businesses of imports of steels and related products, Chairman National Tariff Commission received the applications by the local manufactures M/s Aisha Steel Mills, alleging dumping of product cold-rolled steel and M/s International Steel, alleging dumping of product galvanized steel originating in and/ or exported from People’s Republic of China into the commerce of Pakistan and thereby allegedly causing material injury to the domestic industry, producing subject goods.
He further submitted that chairman National Tariff Commission initiated investigation under section 23 of the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015 against allegedly dumped imports of investigated products on the application, whereby, preliminary determinations dated 13/01/2016 and 03/11/2016 and issued notices for recovery of anti-dumping duties.
Citing secretary of Commerce, secretary Law, chairman National Tariff Commission, chairman Federal Board of Revenue and Customs -Appraisement East/West and Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, petitioners pleaded the court may declare that the coercive measures by the respondents for forced recovery of impugned anti-dumping duties during the pendency of its statutory appeals before the appellate tribunal is illegal, mala fide, arbitrary.
