ISLAMABAD: United States Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will reach Pakistantoday (Tuesday) to discuss ways and means to further enhance trade tieswith Islamabad.
According to the officials of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), the homeworkfor the US Commerce Secretary’s visit has been completed.
During a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Commerce on Tuesday,Additional Secretary Commerce Javed Akbar informed that various options toenhance bilateral trade would be discussed during Wednesday’s meeting.
According to the MoC, Pakistan would ask the US to convene the meeting ofthe Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council to move forwardseriously on a number of issues.
“Although, like other countries, there is already a GSP plus facility forPakistan in the US, but new steps could be taken for getting maximumbenefit of the trade preferential facility,” said the officials.
An official from the MoC said the ministry was trying to opt the model ofjoint ventures on the pattern of Egypt and some African countries toenhance trade ties with biggest economies like the US.
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Similar options would be discussed during the scheduled meetings with thesenior US official, he added.
According to the ministry’s officials, Ross is accompanying PresidentDonald Trump during his visit to India and he would fly to Pakistantomorrow for his few hours stay.
The US official would hold meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan, PM’sAdviser on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Special Assistant tothe PM on Petroleum Nadeem Babar and PM’s Adviser on Commerce, Industries,Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood.
