ISLAMABAD: The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Thailand will be signed on January 30 for enhancing bilateral trade between the two countries. The 9th round of negotiations happened from November 15 to 17 this year, in which both sides presented the complete offer list for reaching the final agreement, a top official of the Ministry of Commerce told APP on Monday. Both sides had exchanged the final offer lists of items for free trade, including automobile and textile sectors, Pakistan wants concession on 100 products, including textiles, agro-products, plastic and pharmaceuticals; the same that Thailand has granted to other FTA partners on these products, he said. The official said that during the 9th round, talks were held over the text of agreement, tariff reduction modalities, complete request lists from both sides, and offer lists. He said Pakistan had relative advantages over Thailand in some 684 commodities, including cotton yarn and woven textiles, readymade garments, leather products, surgical instruments and sports goods. While talking on the second phase of Pak-China FTA, he said China had agreed to provide market access to 65 items, shared by Pakistan besides providing concession on all items included in the offer list. He added that the coming round of negotiations with China under the 2nd phase of the FTA would be held in the first week of January, 2018 in Islamabad. This acceptance came during the negotiations held under the 2nd phase of Pak-China FTA in China. “We want concession on 65 import items and low tariff line on products for further trade liberalisation in the 2nd phase of FTA between Pakistan and China,” he said. The official said Pakistan was desirous to have duty relaxation on 65 products before launching phase-II, the same that China has given to the Association of South East Asian Nation countries.
