Pakistan has demanded access to American markets for its pharmaceuticals and information technology firms. Today, both parties began a dialogue on bilateral trade and related contentious issues under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).
According to reliable sources in the Ministry of Commerce, the two parties will discuss giving Pakistan access to US markets for the local pharmaceutical industry as well as certification of Pakistani pharmaceutical companies by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The negotiations are expected to last until March 9, 2022. According to sources, the American team is led by Assistant US Trade Representative (AUSTR) for South and Central Asia, Christopher Wilson, while the Pakistani team is led by Secretary of Commerce, Muhammad Saleh Farooqi.
According to sources, the meeting will also discuss the facilitation of US markets for adequate access to Pakistani IT companies.
During Bill Gates’ first visit to Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked him to support Pakistan’s IT firms’ entry into US markets.
The meeting’s main goal is to assist Pakistani pharmaceutical companies in developing relationships with the United States. In this regard, American assistance will be sought in order to establish a Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Pakistan.
Furthermore, certification of Pakistani pharmaceutical firms by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is being advocated in order for Pakistani firms to compete effectively in global markets.
According to other reports, the Pakistani side may seek American assistance to remove bottlenecks in the US market against the backdrop of both veteran and emerging companies/entities in the country.
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