Pakistan Reiterates Importance of GSP Plus as India-EU Trade Deal Raises Concerns
Islamabad (Arab News) — January 30, 2026: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has underlined the significance of the European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus for Pakistan’s trade, as Islamabad assesses the possible impact of a new free trade agreement between India and the EU.
Key Developments:
- Pakistan highlights the importance of GSP Plus amid concerns over the India-EU free trade agreement.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discusses trade and cooperation with the EU ambassador in Islamabad.
- Exporters warn Pakistan’s tariff advantage in the EU market may come under pressure.
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India and the European Union confirmed this week that they have concluded a trade deal granting Indian exporters wide-ranging tariff-free access to the EU market. The development has prompted concern among Pakistani exporters and analysts, who fear the agreement could dilute Pakistan’s preferential access under the GSP Plus framework.
During a meeting with EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis at the Prime Minister’s House, Sharif stressed that GSP Plus remains central to strengthening trade ties between Pakistan and the EU. According to an official statement, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working closely with the bloc to enhance trade through existing preferential mechanisms.
Sharif also emphasized Pakistan’s intention to deepen cooperation with the EU across key sectors, including investment, development, security, migration, and climate change. Ambassador Karoblis, in response, assured continued engagement with Pakistan to promote trade and strengthen bilateral relations.
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Under the GSP Plus scheme, Pakistan currently benefits from duty-free access on around two-thirds of EU tariff lines, particularly in the textile and apparel sector. Previously, similar Indian exports faced duties of up to 12%, giving Pakistan a competitive edge.
The discussion comes as Pakistan’s export performance shows signs of strain. Official data indicates that while exports grew to $32.1 billion in the last fiscal year, they declined by 9% to $15.2 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year, highlighting the importance of maintaining preferential market access.
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