EU Envoy Clarifies Commerce Minister’s Remarks on Pakistan’s GSP+ Rollover Status

The European Union’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Riina Kionka has clarified that the rollover of rules on Pakistan’s GSP Plus status is unconnected to the country’s performance and monitoring will continue as it did before.

The envoy issued the statement in response to a tweet by Caretaker Commerce Minister Dr. Gohar Ejaz. She said, “This rollover is proposed so as to avoid a cliff edge at the end of 2023. It is unrelated to Pakistan’s performance or that of any other beneficiary country. Member States will decide soon. Monitoring will continue”.

To clarify: This rollover is proposed so as to avoid a cliff edge at the end of 2023. It is unrelated to 🇵🇰’s performance or that of any other beneficiary country. 🇪🇺 Member States will decide soon. Monitoring will continue. https://t.co/Komdbf6mAy https://t.co/MvpJWwkxFc

— Riina Kionka (@RKionka) October 5, 2023

The ambassador also tweeted that she wholeheartedly supports the commitment of Commerce Minister Gohar Ejaz and the Government of Pakistan to fully meet GSP+ obligations.

And, together with 🇪🇺 TeamEurope, I wholeheartedly support the commitment of Minister @Gohar_Ejaz1 and the @GovtofPakistan to fully meet GSP+ obligations. @EUPakistan https://t.co/yFV3EfVp27

— Riina Kionka (@RKionka) October 5, 2023

It bears mentioning that Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have agreed to extend the GSP rules for another four years, until 2027.

The Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) of the European Union is a trade arrangement that eliminates import taxes on items from developing nations entering the market.