ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: Pakistan and the United States have agreed to move forward for early finalisation of reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) and Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).

“Both Pakistan's Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan and US Trade Representative Susan Shawab have showed their resolve to move forward on the ROZs and BIT in a positive manner,” said an official announcement issued here on Thursday by the commerce ministry.

The commerce minister met the US trade representative at the sidelines of the Cairns group meeting held in Australia. Trade ministers and representatives of 17 other than Cairns Group countries are attending the meeting to kick-start the stalled negotiation on Doha Development Agenda (DDA).

The meeting provided a useful opportunity to discuss how to receive global trade talks. During the current Doha negotiations, the Cairns Group has continued to push for the liberalisation of trade in agricultural exports.

The commerce minister also held bilateral meetings with WTO director general Pascal Lamy and New Zeland Trade Minister Phil Goff.

The WTO DG asked Mr Khan to play his role as a lead mediator to break the dead lock in talks.

The Cairns Group include countries Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Indonesia Malaysia, New Zeeland, Pakistan, Paraguay, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Uruguay.