Overview
- Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan met the European Commission Monitoring Mission in Islamabad, led by Sergio Balibrea with EU Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis in attendance.
- Pakistan emphasized that the EU is its largest export market and said GSP+ has supported trade, jobs, women’s empowerment and sustainable development.
- Officials said the country continues to implement the 27 conventions linked to GSP+ and voiced confidence the 5th Biennial Review will acknowledge progress.
- Islamabad raised concern over the EU’s withdrawal of ethanol preferences, calling it a blow to Pakistan’s biggest non-textile export and to farmers’ livelihoods.
- Pakistan requested an impartial process for the Basmati GI decision and proposed additional products such as Sindhi Ajrak, Pink Salt and Mangoes for GI protection, as both sides pledged to strengthen trade ties under a stable, predictable framework.