Pakistan to be part of European GSPs from January

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Pakistan to be part of European GSPs from January 1, 2006


WASHIHGTON, Nov 28 (APP)- Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan Sunday said Pakistan would be part of the European Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) from January 1, 2006.

Replying to a question on market access in Europe, the Minister who embarked on a visit of Washington, said “this GSP will cover almost hundred percent of our products that we export to Europe.”

“All our products will get concessions- textile and clothing will get a 20 percent concession,” he said, adding the other non-textile and clothing areas will have a 3.5 per cent cut in duties.

“So, we are part of the European GSP. We have GSPs with America too, but these do not cover textile- that is the fundamental difference between European GSPs and American GSPs.”

European Union is Pakistan’s largest trading partner. EU-Pakistan overall trade volume increased from 5.06 billion Euros in 2002 and 5.16 billion Euros in 2003 to 6.09 billion Euros in 2004. At the same time, trade deficit declined due to increase in EU exports and has been recorded at 412 million euros in favour of Pakistan.

Replying to a question about progress in respect of the matter of Intellectual Property Rights raised by the U.S. in the past, the Commerce Minister said “there are major improvements in intellectual property rights. We have all the legislation in place- we have the organization- the Pakistan Intellectual Property Rights Organization (PIPRO), to oversee copyright, trademark and patent protection issues.”

“It is functioning; the eight CD manufacturers the U.S. Government had identified- they are now closed, which were manufacturing CDs illegally.”

“The Sessions Court in Pakistan in May 2005 dismissed the petition against Westinghouse- so, that issue is no longer there. It has been appealed, but, the main trial court dismissed it.”

He said the U.S. Government has conveyed its appreciation of the steps taken by Pakistan, in this regard. The U.S. authorities had through a recent statement, welcomed “Pakistan’s recent efforts to strengthen its protection of intellectual property rights through administrative reform and aggressive enforcement.”

To a question on Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), the Commerce Minister said the last TIFA meeting took place in Washington in September 2004, and “we will be talking about fixing a date for next TIFA meeting.”

With respect to Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), he said the last meeting took place in September, and, “negotiations are continuing.”

“We will be asking the United States to set a deadline for the completion of Bilateral Investment Treaty- it is taking place under TIFA.”

Of his current scheduled visits to Los Angeles and New York,the Commerce Minister said he would be meeting “a lot of American businessmen intersted in doing business with Pakistan.”

In LA, he said, he would be going to the Pacific Business Council, which is headed by Warren Christopher. “They are planning to bring a group of American businessmen to Pakistan. So, I will be meeting them.”

“Visits to LA and NY are primarily trade promotion trips, I will be meeting businessmen and importers as well as exporters who are interested in trade with Pakistan.”

The Commerce Minister will leave New York Friday for London, on his way back to Pakistan.