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Since the European Commission first suggested the imposition of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on made up cotton bed linen imported from India and Pakistan in December 2002, the Association has lobbied both the UK Department of Trade and Industry and the Commission itself making the point that the proceedings have been illegally initiated and, if implemented, would result in significant cost increases to the UK textile rental sector and ultimately end-users. Our argument won favour with the DTI, but I regret to advise that the Commission has nonetheless decided that duty should be imposed. The detail of the measures are as follows:- India Commission Regulation 74/2004 of 17 January 2004 imposes anti-subsidy duties on made up cotton bed linen on a mill-by-mill basis. The duties are levied by and payable to the European Commission. The rates take effect from 18 January 2004 and are effective for a period of five years. a) there are eight individual company specific rates of duty as follows: Vigneshwara Exports Ltd Mumbai 4.4% The Bombay Dyeing and Manufacturing Co, Mumbai/N.W. Exports Limited, Mumbai/Nowrosjee Wadia & Sons, Mumbai - all 5.3% Brijmohan Purusottamdas, Mumbai 6.3% Divya Textiles, Mumbai 6.9% Texcellence Overseas, Mumbai, Jindal/Worldwide Ltd Ahmedabad - both 8.5% Pasupati Fabrics, New Delhi 8.5% Mahalaxmi Exports, Ahmedabad 9.6% Prakash Cotton Mills Pvt Ltd, Mumbai 12.2% (b) there are a further seventy-two companies listed in an Annex to the Regulation that attract a duty of 8.3% c ) all other companies not specifically listed attract a duty rate of 12.2%. Pakistan The DTI has advised that a proposal to introduce definitive anti-dumping duties on made up cotton bed linen imported from Pakistan has been approved by the anti-dumping committee and is scheduled for adoption by the Council on 1 March 2004 and will appear in the Official Journal of the European Communities any time after that, but no later than 17 March 2004. Duties will come into effect for a period of five years on 18 March or 1 day after publication, whichever is the sooner. Due to the security situation in Pakistan, Commission officials have not been able to visit all mills and have thus imposed a uniform duty rate of 13.1%. The Commission has advised that it intends to conduct a review if the security situation so allows which would likely result in duty being imposed on a mill-by-mill basis. Appeals The Association is supporting the Department of Trade and Industry in appealing these duties to the World Trade Organisation. If I can offer any further information or advice, please do not hesitate to contact me (tel: 020 8863 7755). Murray Simpson Chief Executive,TSA Back to Stop Press |