EU mission holds meeting to gauge Pakistan's eligibility for GSP+ renewal

Islamabad: The first meeting of the European Union's (EU) monitoring mission was held on the issue of expansion of the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) plus scheme for Pakistan.

According to details, the EU monitoring mission during an onsite visit will gauge Pakistan's eligibility to qualify for the renewal of the GSP plus for another 10 years in the next phase from 2024 to 2034 through the implementation of 32 conditions.

An official announcement was made on Wednesday that the EU's monitoring mission comprising officials from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission’s Directorates-General for Trade and for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion have arrived in Pakistan and they will assess the effective implementation of 27 international conventions to Pakistan’s signatory.

The GSP+ provides wide-ranging tariff preferences for imports to the EU from vulnerable developing countries to support poverty eradication, sustainable development and their participation in the global economy as well as reinforce good governance.

Eligible countries like Pakistan can export goods to the EU market at zero duties for 66% of tariff lines. This preferential status is conditional on GSP+ countries demonstrating tangible progress on the implementation of 27 international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection, climate change and good governance.

As stated by Executive Vice President and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis in 2021 “For five decades, the EU GSP has supported vulnerable countries to grow in a sustainable manner by giving them preferential access to the EU market. This has helped beneficiary countries to diversify their economies and create jobs. It has also galvanised beneficiary countries into improving human and labour rights, the environment and good governance”.

As underlined by High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles “The GSP scheme is all about the EU’s and Pakistan’s joint commitment to sustainable development.”GSP+ has been very beneficial to Pakistani businesses increasing their exports to the EU market by 65% since the country joined GSP+ in 2014.

The European Single Market, with over 440 million consumers, is Pakistan’s most important destination. Pakistan exports worth EUR 5.4 billion (approx. PKR 1.2 trillion) garments, bed linen, terry towels, hosiery, leather, sports and surgical goods.

The mission would hold meetings with the government, the UN Country Team, International Labour Organisation (ILO), business and civil society representatives as well as other stakeholders.

The findings of the mission would be part of the next GSP report, which is due to be presented to the European Parliament and the Council towards the end of 2022. The European Union continuously monitors the implementation of relevant 27 international conventions drawing inter alia on the reports and information by the UN and other international agencies that are custodians of the respective convention.

On the other hand, Federal Minister for Planning and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal said the government was positively engaged with the European Union Monitoring Mission expecting the extension of GSP+ (Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus) status for Pakistan for the next 10 years, which was set to expire on Dec 31, 2023.

It is pertinent to mention that there is zero per cent duty on several export products under this GSP plus status.