US agrees to consider unilateraly TPP with Pakistan

Finally, the US administration has shown its willingness to consider unilateral trade preferences program to help Pakistan overcome economic difficulties. The Trade Policy Agenda for 2011, which provides a roadmap for US trade policy initiatives for to the US Congress.

The policy document provides resolve of the US Government to continue to support economic opportunities through trade for countries that have been particularly ravaged by disaster or violence. Two countries were specified in the report for such efforts i.e. Haiti and Pakistan. The relevant paragraph for Pakistan reads as follows:-

“This year, we will also help our Pakistani partners recover from last year’s devastating floods by seeking to build economic prosperity through trade. To this end, we will work with Congress to ensure renewal of GSP and to identify other mechanisms, including appropriate preference policies that can provide Pakistan the opportunities necessary to overcome challenges like the 2010 floods”.

In this backdrop, Makhdoom M. Amin Fahim, Minister of Commerce wrote a letter to Ambassador Ron Kirk, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on September 02, 2010 requesting US support for Pakistan. During the recent visit of Mr. David Lipton to Pakistan, the Ministry of Commerce again requested the US administration for trade concessions highlighting the earlier request made by the Commerce Minister to the USTR.

In August 2010, Pakistan witnessed worst floods in his history. Pakistan requested the international community for immediate relief and assistance. We have been requesting our friends and allies for trade concessions to rehabilitate our economy which was already under strain due to deteriorating security situation.

The Pakistan specific trade agenda for 2011 announced by US Government is the result of comprehensive efforts of our leadership in which Ministry of Commerce is playing an active role. The Ministry of Commerce would continue to be engaged with the USTR to develop appropriate measures to realize this policy objective.