EU Ambassador Warns Pakistan Over Future of GSP+ Trade Status

EU Envoy Says Pakistan Cannot Count on Automatic GSP+ Extension

Brussels has made its position clear: duty-free access to European markets is not a given for Pakistan. European Union Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis warned that while existing trade perks run through a transition period ending in December 2028, getting renewed approval under the next EU framework will take real, trackable progress on human rights and law enforcement.

The warning follows a European Commission review that flagged slipping standards across several key areas between 2023 and 2025. European officials noted that while lawmakers in Islamabad passed some administrative updates, those changes rarely improved conditions on the ground.
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Where European Officials See Red Flags

European observers pointed to several persistent issues that could complicate Pakistan's upcoming reapplication:

Civil and press liberties: New laws like recent PECA amendments and the Punjab Defamation Act, alongside ongoing pressure on working journalists.

Human rights records: Unresolved cases of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial actions, and reports of forced labor.

Legal and minority protections: Weak judicial independence and ongoing concerns surrounding blasphemy laws, despite recent bail orders for detained individuals in Islamabad.
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High Economic Stakes for Textile Exporters

Losing preferential access would hit Pakistan's economy hard. The European Union buys nearly 28 percent of all Pakistani exports, with around 90 percent of those goods moving under GSP+ zero-duty status.

The textile and apparel industry has the most to lose, making up between 70 and 76 percent of Pakistani shipments to Europe. In 2024 alone, GSP+ perks saved local exporters around €732 million in duties on €7.115 billion worth of goods. Without those exemptions, Pakistani garments could face tariffs between 9 and 12 percent, making them far less competitive against regional rivals.

Tougher Criteria for the Next Round

The successor trade regime raises the bar from 27 to 32 international conventions. While Pakistan has already ratified the additional treaties on paper, Ambassador Karoblis stressed that legal signatures will not be enough.

To secure long-term access, Islamabad must submit a formal action plan with specific deadlines and performance metrics. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi noted that Pakistan remains committed to working with Brussels, though he maintained that the EU's latest report failed to offer a fully balanced picture of national progress.