Pakistan eyes greater EU market access, export growth

Mettis Global reported that Pakistan is pushing to deepen trade and economic ties with friendly countries, with the European Union as a key priority. A meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Thursday reviewed ways to speed up trade partnerships, with market access and export performance at the centre of the discussion.

Dar called for effective follow-up on GSP+ commitments and prompt rollout of the agreed steps, arguing that coordination is key to securing full benefits from market access. He directed the concerned authorities to prioritise steps that raise trade and export performance. Officials from the commerce and interior ministries, the foreign office and the Brussels mission also attended.

The revised GSP framework takes effect on January 1, 2027, which makes Pakistan's implementation of its GSP+ commitments especially important if it wants to keep preferential access to the European market. The scheme also contains an automatic safeguard for rice imports, designed to shield EU producers from possible market disruption.