ISLAMABAD, Jan 7: Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan said on Wednesday that his ministry had constituted a Core Group on Trade Diplomacy to review the existing bilateral and regional trade profiles and suggest measures to improve Pakistan's trade relation for enhanced share in regional as well as global trade.
Addressing a press conference here, the minister said that the group would also prepare Pakistan's stance on the issues pertaining to the European Commission, with particular reference to abatement to super basmati rice, anti-dumping, etc.
It will also recommend a plan of action pertaining to Trade and Investment Facilitation Agreement (TIFA) follow-up and Pakistan's accession to Asean and Bangkok Agreement and to monitor global trade developments relating to Pakistan's interest, he added.
Explaining the salient features of the Safta agreement, the commerce minister explained and highlighted the preparation of sensitive list, both for developing countries and least developed countries of Saarc region, keeping in view the best national interest with respect to protection to the local industry and trade.
Mr Khan added that this preparatory work would be undertaken by the committee of experts and finalized by Safta Ministerial Council comprising commerce ministers of Saarc member countries.
Referring to exclusion of super basmati rice by the European Commission from the Abatement Scheme, the commerce minister said that a strong protest had already been lodged with the EC ambassador based in Islamabad and all the Pakistan ambassadors in EU capitals had also been sent a detailed direction 'demarche' for taking up the matter with EU member countries.
Pakistan has also done a detailed analysis of the reasons given by the EC for exclusion of super basmati from the abatement list, he added. "Pakistan feels that super basmati is a proper basmati as agreed to by the Food Standard Agency of the UK. Export prices of super basmati are not lower than the limit prescribed by the EC. And the EU has taken action without finalizing the consultation process. Pakistan is requesting the EC to review its decision," he said.
Mr Khan said a delegation led by commerce secretary was currently visiting EU capitals for lobbying Pakistan's case for inclusion of super basmati in the abatement list. The EU Abatement Scheme had helped in pushing Pakistan's export of super basmati to EU countries to 72,000 tons during the last year valued at $43 million from 9,000 tons in 1995-96.
Regarding the anti-dumping duty on the exports of Pakistan's bedlinen to the European Union, the minister said Pakistan was making efforts to help the exporters present their case. The factors, which according to the EU have led to their proposal to impose this duty, have been communicated to the exporters in a "disclosure document" and the exporters have dispatched their replies to the EU, he added
Mr Khan said that the Anti-dumping Committee of the EU was scheduled to meet on January 15 at Brussels to take a decision by the majority vote. "A delegation of officials and exporters of bedlinen will reach London today which will also visit other EU's capitals to present Pakistan's case before the authorities. The delegation is led by the secretary commerce," the minister said.
The commerce minister told reporters that Pakistan's cumulative exports during the January-December period increased to $5.881 billion as compared to $5.198 billion during the corresponding period of last year, showing an increase of 13.2 per cent. He said the exports increased by 21.3 in December 2003 over the same month last year.