BRUSSELS: Arguing that, as a result of the proposed British entry into the European Economic Community, “we are going to be hit along with other Commonwealth countries”, Pakistan’s Ambassador to European Community, Mr Riaz Piracha has called for “increased access for expanding products of our industries to enlarged Common Market”.

In an exclusive interview with this correspondent, Ambassador Piracha recalled the offer on the occasion of the abortive British negotiations with the Common Market in 1962-63 that, “In the event of British entry into the Common Market, comprehensive trade agreement would be negotiated between Pakistan and the enlarged European Community” adding that “we hope that this understanding of 1962 will be implemented in 1970 or 1971 when British entry should become a fact”.

Apart from the fact that nearly a third of Pakistan’s trade will be affected by the enlargement of the European community Ambassador Piracha pointed out that “the common external tariff of the Common Market will apply to our exports to Britain when Britain becomes a member of the Common Market. That is to say, that we shall not only lose our preferences but we shall lose doubly as there shall be a fairly high tariff standing in the way of our duty-free exports to the British market.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2020