ISLAMABAD: The National Tariff Commission (NTC) has imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty of 9.03 percent on imports of pharmaceutical packaging material, Alu Alu Foil, originating in or exported from China for four months, following a preliminary determination that dumped imports have caused material injury to the domestic industry.
According to a notice of preliminary determination issued by the NTC, the duty applies to Cold Forming Foil and Tropical Foil classified under Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) codes 7607.1990 and 7607.2000.
The commission initiated the anti-dumping investigation on July 23, 2026, following an application filed by Zenith Packages Industries (Pvt.) Limited, Lahore, under the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015.
The investigation was launched to determine whether imports of the product from China were being sold in Pakistan at dumped prices and whether such imports had caused material injury to the domestic industry.
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The NTC has provisionally concluded that the investigated product was exported from China to Pakistan at dumped prices and that the resulting imports had caused material injury to the local industry.
The commission identified a significant increase in the volume of dumped imports, price undercutting, price depression and price suppression among the factors contributing to the injury.
The preliminary determination also found a decline in the domestic industry’s market share, sales, production, productivity, capacity utilisation, profits, profitability and return on investment. Negative effects were also reported on inventories, salaries and wages, growth and the industry’s ability to raise capital.
The commission stated that it had decided to impose a provisional duty under Section 43 of the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015, to prevent further material injury to the domestic industry during the investigation.
However, instead of imposing a duty equivalent to the full dumping margin, the commission opted for a lesser duty equal to the injury margin, determining that a rate of 9.03 percent would be sufficient to address the injury suffered by the domestic industry during the period under investigation.
The provisional duty will remain in force for four months from the date of publication of the notice in the press.
The product under investigation is an advanced pharmaceutical and nutraceutical packaging material made by layering aluminium with specialised polymers, including Oriented Polyamide Film (OPA) and/or Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). It is used to manufacture blister packs that protect tablets and capsules from humidity, oxygen, heat and light.
The period for determining dumping covers April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, while the period for assessing material injury spans April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2026.
The commission received responses to its exporter questionnaires from one Chinese exporter/foreign producer, Yangzhou Jerel Pharmaceutical New Material Co. Ltd., and determined the preliminary individual dumping margin for the company on the basis of the information provided.
The NTC has invited interested parties registered in the investigation to request a hearing within 15 days of publication of the notice in the press. Requests must be submitted in writing to the Secretary, National Tariff Commission, Islamabad.
The commission is required to make its final determination within 180 days from the date of publication of the preliminary determination notice.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026