RIAA Barker Gillette is representing major Turkish manufacturers in a Pakistan anti-dumping investigation initiated by the National Tariff Commission (NTC) concerning imports of disodium carbonate, commonly known as soda ash. The investigation could significantly impact Pakistan’s glass, plastics, and detergent industries that depend on this critical raw material.
The proceedings began in July 2025 following an application by domestic producers alleging that imported products were being sold at unfairly low prices. We mounted a robust defense, arguing that the application fails to meet the statutory thresholds required under Pakistan anti-dumping legislation, specifically the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015, and WTO obligations.
This marks the second Pakistan anti-dumping investigation targeting Turkish soda ash imports. RIAA Barker Gillette previously secured a favorable outcome when an earlier 2021 investigation was terminated within six months due to insufficient evidence. The firm’s trade law team is leveraging this precedent while advancing arguments about the broader economic implications of potential duties.
The case extends beyond technical legal arguments to fundamental questions about Pakistan’s industrial policy and consumer welfare. Soda ash serves as an essential input across multiple sectors. Any duties imposed without adequate justification would cascade through the supply chain, raising production costs and ultimately affecting consumer prices at a time of heightened inflation concerns.
“Challenging such initiations is crucial to ensure that a bar is set for matters where investigations can be opened, and also to ensure that our trade partners are not needlessly engaged in lengthy and resource-intensive proceedings,” said Mazhar Bangash, Partner and Head of the International Trade practice at RIAA Barker Gillette.
The firm’s submissions draw on extensive Pakistan anti-dumping experience to emphasise the country’s WTO commitments and the principle of comparative advantage in international trade. Turkish producers, including some of the world’s largest soda ash manufacturers, have developed efficient production capabilities that benefit Pakistani industries through competitive pricing. Trade measures lacking proper evidentiary support would disrupt these legitimate trade flows.
RIAA Barker Gillette’s team, led by Mazhar Bangash (Partner-Pakistan) and supported by Senior Associate Momin Taufiq, Junior Associate Ayesha Bashir, and Trainee Associate Fuzail Hassan, continues applying their Pakistan anti-dumping expertise as the NTC reviews the record ahead of its preliminary determination.
For advice on trade remedies and international trade matters, contact Mazhar Bangash today.
This article is not legal advice; it provides information of general interest about current legal issues.
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RIAA Barker Gillette is Pakistan’s premier law firm, with an on-the-ground presence in three major cities in Pakistan: Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore, and affiliated offices in Dubai (DIFC) and London.
The firm practices in all areas of corporate, commercial and dispute resolution law. Leading international legal directories consistently recognise the firm as a top-tier law firm in Pakistan.
RIAA Barker Gillette is the exclusive member firm in Pakistan for Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms with in-depth experience in over 125 countries worldwide.
