EU threatens Pakistan's GSP+ trade preferences over human rights breaches

The European Commission released a joint staff working document on 16 July 2026 assessing Pakistan’s compliance with the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+). The report says Pakistan must implement concrete reforms on enforced disappearances, blasphemy laws and other human‑rights issues or risk losing its GSP+ status, which gives the country full duty‑free access to the EU’s 27‑member market.

Pakistan currently receives about 28 % of its total exports through the EU, with textiles and clothing accounting for roughly 70–76 % of that trade. The loss of GSP+ would therefore jeopardise billions of euros in annual export revenue. The assessment is the final monitoring review before a stricter GSP+ framework takes effect on 1 January 2027, requiring all beneficiaries to re‑apply under tighter sustainability and governance criteria.