WT/COMTD/RTA/7/2  
 
13 Decembe r 2016 
(16-6774) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Dedicated Session on Regional Trade Agreements  Original: English  
 
 PREFERENTIAL TRADE A GREEMENT BETWEEN MAURITIUS AND PAKISTAN   
(GOODS ) 
QUESTIONS AND REPLIE S 
 The following communication, dated  8 December 2016, is being circulated at the request of  
the delegations of Mauritius and Pakistan . 
 
 The document reproduces the q uestions addressed to the Parties and the responses 
submitted.  
 
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Questions from the delegation of the United States  
 
Question 1  
 
Table 4.1 of the Secretariat’s report lists other agreements that t he P arties to this 
agreem ent are also party  to. Can the P arties provide any updates regarding timing of 
notifications for these agreements?  
 
Response from Mauritius  
Mauritius takes note of the non -notified regional trade agreements which are in force. Attention 
would be drawn to the respective Secr etariats to undertake necessary actions.  
 
Response from Pakistan  
Table 4.1 of the factual presentation (WT/COMTD/RTA/7/1) mentioned five agreements where 
Pakistan is a P arty and the agreements have not yet been no tified to the WTO.  
 
Consultations with the concerned P arties for the notification of these agreements are underway.  
 
Question 2  
 
Is it correct that under the A greement, Mauritius liberalized only 49 tariff lines that 
were not already free on an MFN basis, and Pakistan liberalized only 75 lines that  were 
not already free on an MFN basis?  
 
Response from Mauritius  
One of the objectives of the Agreement was to bind the MFN zero duties bilaterally, besides 
liberalizing additional tariffs.  
 
Response from Pakistan  
Pakistan liberalized 75 tariff lines that were not already free on an MFN basis.  
 
Question 3  
 
Accor ding to Table 3.1, just over 20% of Mauritius’ l ines remain dutiable under the 
Agreement. Table 3.2 indicates that over 93 % of Pakistan’s tariff lines remain dutiable.  
Why were so many tariff lines l eft untouched?  
 WT/COMTD/RTA/7/2  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Response from Mauritius  
The remaining tariff lines are expected to be negotiated in the context of the FTA.  
 
Response from Pakistan  
The coverage of the current preferential trade is limite d. The P arties are working towards reaching 
for a co mprehensive product coverage.  
 
Question 4  
 
We also ask that the Parties please explain how such massive carve outs fit under the 
Enabling Clause, which explicit ly states that such agreements " shall be designed to 
facilitate and promote the trade of develop ing countries?"  
 
Response from Mauritius  
The enabling clause does not have any explicit threshold on tariff elimination contrary to 
Article XXIV.  
 
Response from Pakistan  
As stated above, the P arties are working towards increasing the prod uct coverage as to  benefit the 
Agreement.  
 
Question 5  
 
We recognize the effects of the financial crisis in 2008, bu t according to C hart 1.1, each 
Party exported less to each other in  2015 than they did before the A greement entered 
into force. Is that correct?  
 
Response from  Mauritius  
Total exports for Mauritius to Pakistan increased from MUR 7 million in 2007 when the A greement 
came into force to MUR 35 million in 2015, which indicate a substantial increase while imports 
from Pakistan to Mauritius decreased from MUR 1,2 bill ion to MUR 735 million during the same 
period.  
 
Response from Pakistan  
Pattern of Pakistan's exports to Mauritius is similar to the trend in the contraction observed in total 
Pakistan's exports to the world.  
 
Question 6  
 
If it is correct, how are Pakistan and M auritius benefitting from this A greemen t on the 
tariff side given the A greeme nt’s massive tariff exclusions?  
 
Response from Mauritius  
PTA has helped Mauritius to make an important breakthrough by exporting non -traditional 
produc ts such as soap and det ergent. However, we expect to see an increased trade with the 
elimination of remaining tar iff in the context of the FTA. Since 2015, Mauritius has also started to 
export ice cream, another non -traditional product, to Pakistan.  
 
Response from Pakistan  
As stated above in answer to Q uestion 3, Parties are aware of the need to increase the product 
coverage and are working towards this objective.  
 
Question 7  
 
The report notes that the A greement includes provisions that allow for future 
negotiation of pro duct-specific rules of origin. The report also notes that no such 
negotiations have taken place since the  agreement entered into force. Would such 
changes to the rules of origin he lp stimulate trade between the P arties?  WT/COMTD/RTA/ 7/2 
 
- 3 - 
 
  Response from Mauritius  
The intention is to  negotiate more flexible rules of origin requirements that would facilitate the use 
of third country materials, hence enlarging the scope of improving product quality and products 
that might qualify for prefer ential access. It is expected that this will le ad to improved bilateral 
trade.  
 
Response from Pakistan  
The product specific rules of origin are on the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the 
Pak-Mauritius  Joint Working Group (JWG).  
 
 
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