PTA chairman calls for retaliation against EU
The chairman of the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA), Masood Ahmed Shaikh, has railed against import duties levied by the European Union (EU) on Pakistani products, suggesting the government respond by placing tariffs on imports from EU member states.
Masood said that there has been a steady fall in leather exports to EU countries - from $97.65 million in 1996-97 to $85.41 million in 2000-2001 - because import duties make Pakistani products uncompetitive. Masood claims that the fact there are no import duties on leather imports from countries such as Bangladesh, India and Turkey unfairly discriminates against Pakistan.
He urged the government to enter into negotiations with the EU for removing duties on Pakistani leather, especially as Italy, Germany, France and Spain, are such important markets. He added that he was highly disappointed with the outcome of the Lineapelle Fair, held in Bologna, Italy, from May 7-9, 2002. He said that although PTA members participated, they did not achieve satisfactory results.
