The case was related to the amount of government subsidies on PET produced by Salalah-based Octal. The investigation which was undertaken by the US Department of Commerce lasted for nearly one and half years according to a press release issued by the MoCI on Tuesday.

The US Department of Commerce issued its decision on March 7 after an extensive investigation into PET exports from Oman and certain other countries.

The investigation showed that subsidy given by the Oman government to Octal does not harm the US industry.

'After the investigations they found out the subsidy rate is just 0.59 per cent which is less than the minimum rate according to the provisions of the applicable laws in the United States.

'Thus the sultanate is excluded from the subsidy case and no fees will be levied on its exports. The subsidy rates of the exports of other countries was proven to be between 5.12 per cent and 153.8 per cent' the press release stated.

The sultanate's victory in this subsidy case in the US is an additional success to the previous victories in the cases raised against Omani exports.

This reflects the efforts of MoCI Octal and all concerned bodies during the investigation period to prove that the Oman government does not provide subsidies to Octal in a way that violates WTO conventions and the laws of the United States.

MoCI further stated that this decision by the US Department of Commerce will benefit all the companies operating out of free zones in the sultanate.