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Pakistan

The government of Pakistan is a keen pursuer of bilateral trade and investment agreements. It has a full FTA with Sri Lanka (2005), a PTA with Iran (2004) and Mauritius (2007), Early Harvest Schemes with China (2005) and Malaysia (2007), and is part of both ECOTA and SAFTA. It is in various stages of FTA talks, or preparations for talks, with Brunei, Indonesia, Jordan, Thailand, Malaysia, Morocco, Singapore, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Canada, Switzerland, Indonesia, Nepal, China, Turkey and Russia (among others). In July 2006, it signed a Framework Agreement on Trade with Mercosur.

Negotiations on a US-Pakistan bilateral investment treaty, as a step towards a US-Pakistan FTA, have been quite controversial and are unconcluded. After talks restarted in mid-2010, a draft US-Pakistan BIT was sent for approval to Pakistan’s Cabinet in April 2012. The Pakistani government has already signed almost 50 BITs with other countries. In 2011 Germany ratified a BIT with Pakistan.

On a wider scale, there is talk of possible Pakistani FTAs with Afghanistan, Algeria, the EU, Japan, Laos, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Tunisia.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Asian Development Bank/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0


Pakistan’s free trade agreement draft wins Iran’s backing
In a sign of progress towards a free trade agreement (FTA), the Iranian authorities have agreed with the initial draft shared by Pakistan and returned it with their input, paving the way for kicking off formal negotiations.
Pakistan, Turkey to complete FTA, eliminate 85% tariffs
Pakistan and Turkey agreed to eliminate 85 percent of tariffs. Both sides have also agreed to complete the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations by the end of current year.
Senior US official reaffirms commitment to trade with Pakistan
Assistant United States Trade Representative (AUSTR) for South Asia Michael Delaney led a delegation to Islamabad to discuss the ongoing US-Pakistan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
FTA talks with Indonesia: Pakistan sets condition
Pakistan has reportedly refused to start negotiations on Free Trade Agreement with Indonesia until Pakistan’s concerns on existing Preferential Trade Agreement are addressed within six months
Post-Brexit: Pakistan aims for new concessionary deal with UK
As the UK’s referendum on exiting the EU means that Pakistan’s exports will no longer enjoy duty-free exports to the country, the Pakistani government is looking to explore options for a free trade agreement that would allow the preferences to continue.
Pakistan and Turkey hold third round of FTA negotiations
The two sides discussed draft texts for Agreements on Trade in Goods, Services and Investments.
Thai-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement on cards: envoy
Thailand and Pakistan are holding talks on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is likely to be signed by the end of this year.
Pakistan, China yet to strike deal on FTA phase-II
Both sides to break the deadlock over reaching an agreement on the revival of preferential tariff on exportable products for each other
Pak-Turk FTA talks focus on goods, services, investment
Pakistan and Turkey started the second round of talks on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with special focus on goods, services and investment.
Pakistan, Iran agree to remove NTBs, start FTA talks
Neighbouring country expresses desire to participate in privatisation programme

    Links


  • Pakistan FTAs
    Webpage maintained by the Ministry of Commerce