
A file photo of Khurram Dastagir Khan. PHOTO: PID
The point of concern is that Britain is the third-largest importer of Pakistani goods, behind the US and China. If it chooses to tear up the deal and withdraw the duty concessions, Pakistani exporters will be left high and dry. It is now a matter of urgency to open negotiations with our largest European importer to salvage the scheme. The good news is our ministry of commerce is working towards this end, with a delegation headed by its secretary due to fly to Britain soon to hold talks on the subject. Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir has proposed considering alternatives to the GSP facility. A key official was upbeat that the two sides would develop viable alternatives in a bid to keep duty-free exports to Britain on course. The Pakistani delegation will be looking to strike a free trade agreement or a package identical to the GSP Plus, to keep all the incentives in place. Let us keep our fingers crossed to see how things pan out.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2016.
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