EU suspends Pakistan trade barriers

A decision to lift trade barriers to certain imports from Pakistan has been described as "tragic" by an MEP during a debate on 20 October 2010.

Portuguese centre-right MEP Nuno Melo made the claim following the announcement by the European Commission that barriers on textile and clothing imports would be temporarily lifted to boost the country's economy following the floods.

Mr Melo said the move would damage the EU's own textile industry and said it was wrong to introduce these measures at the same time that many EU countries are suffering deep economic and budgetary pressures.

However Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht said that "ambitious" trade measures were needed to help Pakistan's recovery, stating that the EU had already contributed more than half of the global aid since the floods.

Around 27% of all Pakistani exports to the UK will be covered by the suspension of trade barriers, although Nuno Melo raised concerns about labour and environmental standards in the country's factories.

British Labour MEP David Martin welcomed the Commission's stance and highlighted the fact that the move was only temporary and was not "carte blanche" to the Pakistani government.

Read more here at Democracy Live's guide to the European Parliament plenary sessions.