Commenting on the European parliament vote to support a new European Union (EU) trade preference scheme for developing countries Sajjad Karim, British Conservative MEP and Legal Affairs spokesperson, said the new scheme will allow Pakistan to apply for zero EU duties to be charged on their exports.
The updated generalized system of preferences (GSP) allows countries such as Pakistan to pay lower or zero export tariffs on their goods sold to the EU.
In a statement received from Brussels here on Friday he said trade is the engine of growth and now the new EU trade scheme is more predictable and generous to countries that are more deserved.
The new scheme will allow Pakistan to apply for zero EU duties to be charged on their exports if they reciprocate by abiding by 27th international conventions in the field of human rights," he added.
The new EU trade scheme will reduce the number of countries that enjoy preferential access to EU markets from 176 to around 75 thus creating room to increase preferences for the remaining beneficiaries. Furthermore the GSP+ scheme will contribute to the promotion of human rights, democracy and freedom of speech in the developing world.
Sajjad Karim, the Chairman of the European Parliament Friends of Pakistan Group, a long term advocate for stronger ties between the EU and Pakistan, said," The European Parliament Friends of Pakistan group has been campaigning to increase the threshold of the GSP+ scheme to allow Pakistan to enjoy more trade with the EU."
He also dismissed the few MEPs' who called for Pakistan not to be included in the trade scheme in a European Parliament debate. "The clear long term strategy is for the EU and Pakistan to cooperate on a wide range of issues including trade, security and policy", he opined
The EU-Pakistan Five Year engagement plan and the recent successful launch of the first strategic dialogue in Islamabad this month with Baroness Ashton is clear evidence of that," he said.
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