Indonesia files dispute against Pakistan over paper products

27 November 2013

Indonesia files dispute against Pakistan over anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations on paper products

Indonesia has notified the WTO Secretariat, on 27 November, of a request for consultations with Pakistan regarding anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations on imports of certain paper products from Indonesia.

On 10 and 23 November 2011, Pakistan started anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations on imports of writing and printing paper from Indonesia. Both investigations have since been suspended by domestic courts. The decision of the Islamabad High Court to suspend the anti-dumping investigation is under appeal.

In its request for consultations, Indonesia alleges that as of 27 November 2013 Pakistan had not yet closed the investigations, in violation of the 18-month limit set in the WTO Agreements on Anti-dumping and Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. Pakistan's failure to close the investigations appears to be inconsistent with Pakistan's obligations under the Agreement on Anti-dumping, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, and the GATT 1994.

This is the second case started by Indonesia this year. The other case, initiated in September, concerns Australia's measures on tobacco plain packaging.

This is the first case brought by Indonesia against Pakistan.

Further information will be available within the next few days in document WT/DS470/1

What is a request for consultations?
The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.

• More on consultations
• Current status of disputes

ENDS

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