GSP+ hinges on meeting EU standards

European Union Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis said Pakistan must show stronger implementation of existing human-rights and rule-of-law commitments to retain benefits under the next GSP+ arrangement. The Express Tribune reported that he made the comments during a meeting with Pakistan Textile Council leaders, following the EU’s assessment of Pakistan for 2023-2025, published on July 16.

The EU says textiles and clothing account for about 70-76% of Pakistan’s exports to the bloc, its largest export market. Karoblis said the EU was not setting new standards, but wanted near-term progress and a credible plan with timelines and measurable targets; council members warned that an EU-India trade agreement could add competitive pressure. Gul Ahmed CEO Zaki Bashir asked that textile-sector conditions be considered separately from national findings.