ISLAMABAD: The government has evolved a strategy to engage high officials of North-East Asian countries for an early resolution of tariff and non-tariff barriers and seeking greater market access for Pakistani products, especially agriculture produce.
These issues will be resolved soon with top officials of Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and China to enhance bilateral trade, a top official of the Ministry of Commerce told Dawn.
The government would request the Japanese government for initiation of early harvest programme (EHP), which is an integral part of a free trade agreement (FTA), which covers the lists for zero-tariff products.
Take a look: Making trade a priority
This will enable Pakistan to get back market access, especially for textile products, the official said, adding that both sides will identify products of export interest for inclusion in the list for duty reduction under EHP. However, this depends on response from the Japanese authorities.
Pakistan and Japan will hold a fifth meeting of Pakistan-Japan Government Business Joint Dialogue, which was established in the year 2001. The forum is supposed to hold meetings annually.
Volume of trade between Japan and Pakistan has been hovering over $1.6 billion for the past few years. Of these, exports from Pakistan stood at $0.2bn and imports from Japan are worth $1.4bn. Imports from Japan mostly consist of auto-parts and machinery. Pakistan has already offered Japan to set up a Special Economic Zone and Textile City in the country, the official said, adding there was no serious response from the Japanese authorities. According to the official, these issues will be discussed in the upcoming Pakistan-Japan Government Business Joint Dialogue.
Japan has imposed ban on import of citrus from Pakistan. Pest risk analysis report will be sent to Japan’s relevant agency for lifting of ban on import of citrus from Pakistan, the official said.
The government is also working on a proposal to promote trade with South Korea. It has also been decided to hold a textile exhibition in Seoul.
Regarding promotion of trade with Hong Kong, the issue of meat export to Hong Kong was stuck because of bureaucratic red tape. The quarantine authority of Hong Kong has already shared the details of the requirement for meat exports, but the file was rusting with the ministry of commerce and the TDAP.
Similarly, the MoU to be signed between TDAP and Trade Promotion Organisation of Hong Kong was pending with ministry of commerce and TDAP. These two issues are of paramount importance for further increasing bilateral trade between the two countries, the official said.
Regarding enhancing trade relations with China, Pakistan has taken up various issues with Beijing to enhance bilateral trade. Pakistan is revising FTA with China and asking Beijing for preferential advantage over its competitors in the market, the official added.
Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2015
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