Free Trade Agreement: Pakistan, China discuss progress on about 700 items

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have discussed progress on approximately 700 items as part of the third phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA).

In FY 2024–25, Pakistan’s total exports to China stood at USD2.375 billion, of which USD 2.16 billion were under the FTA framework.

The Ministry informed the Committee that negotiations are under way with Beijing to secure market access on par with ASEAN and Bangladesh. Efforts are also under way to ease compliance burdens through agricultural protocols and explore the establishment of a “Green Channel” at the Sust-Khunjerab border.

In this regard, a high-level meeting was held between the Federal Minister for Commerce of Pakistan, Jam Kamal Khan, and Jiang Zaidong, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Pakistan on the sidelines of the ongoing Pakistan-China Agriculture Investment Conference, underscoring the strategic priority both nations place on strengthening economic ties.

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Pakistan’s delegation, led by the Commerce Minister, comprised key stakeholders in the nation’s trade ecosystem. It included the Secretary of Commerce, the Chief Executive of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In his opening remarks the Commerce Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to boosting its exports through a multi-faceted strategy.

He placed particular emphasis on leveraging Government-to-Government (G2G) cooperation, in addition to Business-to Business (B2B) channels, to accelerate trade growth and deepen the economic partnership between the countries.

The substantive discussions focused on identifying and exploring concrete opportunities to enhance bilateral trade in agricultural products.

Both sides engaged in a detailed review of the existing trade landscape and potential avenues for expansion.

The Chinese Ambassador acknowledged the critical role of robust agricultural trade and provided an overview of China’s current import regulatory framework. The two sides agreed to maintain positive momentum by continuing their dialogue.

Pakistan’s imports from China peaked at USD 20.8 billion in 2020–21, against exports of just USD 3.1 billion, with the latest figures (2024–25) showing a persistent imbalance of USD 17 billion in imports versus USD 2.7 billion in exports.

Members noted that Pakistan continues to export raw materials like copper and cotton, which return as high-value products, and urged greater focus on value-added production in textiles, minerals, and meat — a sector with an export potential of USD 5 billion.

The meeting concluded on a cordial note, reflecting the enduring strength and resilience of the Pakistan-China partnership, which continues to evolve to meet new economic opportunities and shared goals.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026