Industry sources suggest that the US government will soon announce that customs duty is to be waived on leather imports from Pakistan. The move would eliminate the 6% customs duty currently placed on leather exports form Pakistan.

The announcement is widely expected in the market access package being prepared for Pakistan by the US commerce department, and follows meetings held in Washington last month by a delegation from Pakistan led by commerce minister Abdul Razak Dawood. Present at the meetings was an ex-chairman of the PTA (Pakistan Tanners Association), who was seeking concessions on leather exports.