EU envoy says GSP+ benefits ‘cannot be taken for granted’ amid engagement over future of vital trading scheme

The European Union's ambassador, Raimundas Karoblis, told Dawn that GSP+ preferences cannot be treated as guaranteed while Islamabad seeks a place in the successor regime. The present framework runs out at the close of this year, and the new arrangement carries tougher conditions. Pakistan and other beneficiaries will keep receiving preferences through a transition period ending on December 31, 2028, though this does not amount to an automatic rollover.

A European Commission assessment covering 2023 to 2025 found that Pakistan had regressed in several areas and made limited positive change, with reforms yet to reach the ground. Karoblis said the government must address these setbacks, a requirement that applies to both the current convention and the reapplication. The Foreign Office responded that the report lacked balance in describing Pakistan's performance, while stressing continued constructive engagement with Brussels.

Textile and clothing face the greatest exposure, since they make up somewhere from 70pc to 76pc of Pakistan's shipments to Europe. Pakistan obtained tariff exemptions worth nearly €732 million in 2024 under the scheme, while the bloc takes in roughly 28 per cent of all Pakistani exports. The envoy said no determination has been made on suspending preferences, yet a reapplication will require an action plan with timelines and performance indicators.