Govt to appeal for greater access to US markets

Allowing greater access to American markets for Pakistani products will now be promoted globally by the government.

ISLAMABAD: Allowing greater access to American markets for Pakistani products will now be promoted globally by the federal government.

Pakistan’s elevation to the Generalised System of Preferences (GSPs) Plus group of countries and the building of Reconstruction Opportunities Zones (ROZs) will also be discussed by a Pakistani delegation in meetings with various countries.

A presentation highlighting the consequences of the flood will be developed jointly by the ministry of finance, the ministry of trade and the foreign ministry will be delivered at the international forum. The presentation will culminate in a request for the establishment of ROZs and the approval of access of Pakistani goods worth up to $50 billion to US markets, while upgrading Pakistan from the conventional GSPs to GSPs Plus.

The Pakistani delegation will also seek duty and quota free treatment for exports to the US from ROZs.

The government also plans to negotiate with the five countries that currently oppose these proposals.

Countries that have opposed the induction of Pakistan into the GSPs Plus and allowance of greater access to American markets include Poland, Portugal, Spain, Italy and France.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2010.