Pakistan must execute core conventions to continue duty free trade: EU

October 18, 2018 (MLN): A European Union (EU) Commission on Trade delegation is due to arrive in Pakistan today to check whether all stakeholders are acting in accordance with the EU conditions on Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), and collect data for continuation of the duty-free exports facility provided to Pakistan.

Pakistan has been gaining from duty-free exports facility under the GSP Plus arrangement since 2014, and in order to maintain this facility it has to continue the implementation of 27 core international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection and good governance.

The visiting delegation will be staying in Pakistan for at least a week to meet government officials, trading community and media personnel. It would seek answers to questions the EU had already sent to all these stakeholders regarding the enforcement of the 27 conventions.

The response of the weeklong interaction would be a part of an ultimate report that would be issued in 2020 and decide the future of the GSP Plus status for Pakistan.

With regards to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, one of the EU ambassadors said that EU supports connectivity but that connectivity should be sustainable and two-way trade.

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