Negotiations to finalise Pak-Turkey FTA to be held soon

ISLAMABAD

The seventh round of negotiations on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Turkey would be held by the end of the current month in Turkey to finalise the agreement.

“Pakistan’s trade balance with Turkey remained positive until 2011 however, it started decreasing since 2011 when additional duties on various commodities were imposed by the two countries,” said a senior official of the ministry of commerce, while talking to APP here on Thursday.

He said the two sides would exchange provisional lists for a final agreement in an upcoming round of dialogue.

The official said the two sides will hold discussions on agreement on goods, services and investment.

After signing of the new FTA with Turkey, both the countries’ gain will be able to improve their trade balance, he added.

The official said that Pakistan will get market space in agriculture and pharmaceutical sector in Turkey.

He said that Pakistan’s major imports from Turkey include man-made textiles, towels, steel structure, tanning and plastic chemicals, processed milk and whey.

Whereas, he said the country’s major exports to Turkey are denim PET, ethanol, cotton yarn, fabric and rice, garments, leather, carpets, surgical instruments, sports good, chemicals.

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