GSP+ remains 'crucial framework' for mutually beneficial EU trade: FM Dar

Underlines need to maximise its potential for Pakistan’s economic growth

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday emphasised that the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) preferential trade scheme remained a crucial framework for mutually beneficial trade with the European Union (EU).

The EU’s GSP+ offers developing countries preferential access to European markets in return for commitments on sustainable development and good governance. Under the scheme, eligible countries are required to implement 27 international conventions covering human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, and good governance. In exchange, the EU reduces import duties to zero on more than two-thirds of the tariff lines applied to its exports. Pakistan is currently one of eight countries who currently benefit from this scheme.

In a post on X today by the Foreign Office, it said FM Dar chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting to discuss strengthening Pakistan’s economic and trade relations with the EU.

The post added that he highlighted the importance of enhancing trade cooperation, exploring new opportunities for economic engagement, and further deepening Pakistan-EU economic relations.

"He emphasised that GSP Plus remains a crucial framework for mutually beneficial trade and underlined the need to maximise its potential for Pakistan’s economic growth," the statement said.

The meeting was attended by the commerce minister, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, Foreign Affairs Secretary Amna Baloch and senior officials from concerned provincial and federal departments and ministries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting to discuss strengthening Pakistan’s economic and trade relations with the European Union.

DPM/FM highlighted the importance of enhancing trade… pic.twitter.com/NU62LRJEVW

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) January 30, 2026

A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis at the PM House in Islamabad. During the meeting, the prime minister said that Pakistan was committed to working closely with the EU on mutually beneficial trade enhancement initiatives, especially through the GSP+ preferential trade scheme.