ISLAMABAD, Jan 25: Commerce secretaries of Pakistan and India will discuss the reports of study groups for removing tariff and non-tariff barriers particularly in the Indian import regime during a meeting being held on February 22-23 in New Delhi.
Talking to Dawn on Tuesday Secretary Commerce Tasleem Noorani said that during the meeting all issues related to tariff and non-tariff barriers would be discussed, which restricted Pakistan's export to Indian markets. He said that Pakistan wanted to know more about the Indian import regime before going to consider any move for liberalizing trade with India.
The government had already constituted study groups to identify hidden tariff and non-tariff barriers in the Indian import regime that restricted the flow of Pakistani exportable products into that country. He said that despite the MFN status India had granted to Pakistan, Islamabad exports to that country could not register any tangible growth.
GSP SCHEME: the secretary commerce said that Pakistan was hopeful to get a favourable market access under the new European Union (EU) generalized system of preference (GSP plus scheme).
He said that during the current visit of the prime minister to Brussels possible breakthrough would be made in relaxing the conditions necessary for qualification for the scheme. He said Pakistan was ready to implement all conventions attached with the GSP plus scheme.
PTA WITH CHINA: The secretary said that Chinese official delegation would arrive here in the third week of next month to discuss further the issue of deepening the cuts in duty on items under the existing preferential trade arrangement (PTA) and new items to be considered for the possible reduction in customs duty.
FTA WITH SRI LANKA: The secretary said that the protocol would be signed during the Sri Lankan president scheduled to visit to Pakistan on February 8.
ATT WITH AFGHANISTAN: Mr Noorani said that the issue of withdrawal of all items from the negative list under the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) would be considered after a high level visit of senior officials to Afghanistan in March next.
