Trade talks between Pakistan-US in Washington from Nov-28
Pakistan Times Business & Commerce Desk

ISLAMABAD: Trade talks between Pakistan and the United States of America will be held in Washington on Nov 28-29.

Minister of Commerce Humayun Akhter Khan is leaving for the US to hold talks with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and other state department officials for further expansion of bilateral trade.

The trade talks would cover mainly the proposed Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, as the government of Pakistan is keen to complete this process in the minimum possible time frame.

The setting up of the proposed Qualified Industrial Zone (QIZ) at the Pakistan-Afghan border for providing job opportunities to the local population would be taken up in the trade talks, the official added. The government of Pakistan is also negotiating zero-duty status on the products to be exported to the US from the QIZ.

The idea behind the setting up of QIZ is that the local population could be provided alternative job opportunities in the area so that their involvement in the poppy cultivation and other terrorist activities can be eliminated.

The proposed QIZ was to be discussed during the visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to the United States but due to the postponement of the visit, the modalities of the said plan are to be negotiated.

The official said the talks were being held at a crucial time when the World Trade Organization’s 6th Ministerial Conference at Hong Kong was just 13 days away. There was a possibility that the two countries would also deliberate on the WTO issues such as elimination of agriculture subsidy by the developed countries, including the US.

Pakistan is a key member of the G-20 a group of developing countries that is demanding of the developed countries to announce a clear roadmap for the elimination of agriculture subsidies, farms support so that the trade in agriculture products/produce could also be made possible for the developing countries, which are faced with the problem of poverty.

The trade in services under the proposed WTO agreement could also be discussed at the talks as Pakistan, India and other countries have already tabled a joint proposal before the WTO for the possible consideration by the developed countries.●