ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: Pakistan will be among the major beneficiaries of the general rules of origin being established by Canada for textiles and apparel products for developing countries, Canadian High Commission stated here on Monday.

These rules, it further disclosed, would allow for 75 per cent accumulation of input from General Preferential Tariff — eligible countries like Pakistan that are major suppliers of textile inputs like yarn and fabrics.

The High Commission went on to dispel the impression voiced by some quarters which suggest that Canada was discriminating against Pakistan exports particularly those of textile and apparel industry. Fact was that Canada had not taken any measure that would change its commercial relationship with Pakistan, it declared.

Explaining the factual position, it said the Government of Canada had decided to extend duty-free and quota-free access to imports from 48 of the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with effect from January 1, 2003.

Accordingly, all imports in Canada originating from these countries, with the exception of certain agricultural products (dairy, poultry and eggs), would be accorded a tariff rate of zero and would also be free from any quota restriction.

It rejected as untrue the report that Canadian buyers would be compelled to switch suppliers and place orders with these LDCs. As always, buyers would respond to competitive prices, quality and certainty of supply. “This is positive for Pakistan,” the High Commission added.

The heads of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, it pointed out, had all underlined the importance of increased market access to reduce poverty in the world’s poorest countries. In this regard, LDCs are designated according to specific UN criteria.

About 10 per cent of the world, that is 614 million people, it was emphasised, live in these poorest countries. The gap between these LDCs and all other countries had been widening on key indicators such as life expectancy, child mortality, primary school enrolment, and rate of economic growth.

Canada’s initiative in this regard, the H.C. made it clear, had been undertaken completely within WTO guidelines which permit the extension of unilateral preferences for LDCs as a group, but not to individual WTO member countries.