A senior Pakistani delegation is scheduled to meet with U.S. officials in Washington next week to address the ongoing tariff dispute, following the U.S. President’s imposition of duties of up to 29% on Pakistani exports to America.
These discussions come amid scrutiny of Pakistan’s $3 billion trade surplus with the U.S. under new American tariff measures introduced through Executive orders aimed at correcting global trade imbalances. These tariffs have been temporarily paused for three months to facilitate diplomatic negotiations.
Read more: Court Blocks Trump’s Tariffs: A Major Win for Trade Law and Congress
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed the delegation will include government representatives, business leaders, and exporters, with the goal of enhancing bilateral trade relations and exploring opportunities for mutual economic growth.
As both Pakistan and India seek to strengthen trade ties with the U.S., former President Trump had linked future trade deals to regional peace, warning he would withhold agreements from either country if conflicts persisted.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is nearing a trade agreement with India, with an interim deal expected by July. Indian officials have proposed opening contracts worth more than $50 billion to American companies, presenting substantial prospects for U.S. businesses.
Pakistan has put forward a proposal for a zero-tariff agreement on select products, aiming to increase trade and position itself as a competitive partner in South Asia. Technical talks between the two countries have begun, with Pakistan also planning to offer investment incentives to U.S. firms, especially in the mining sector.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal emphasized potential cooperation in mineral-rich Balochistan and expressed hope that tariffs could be gradually reduced to attract greater foreign investment.
