Pakistan to Send Senior Delegation to U.S. for Trade and Tariff Talks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to dispatch a high-level delegation to the United States to hold discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and addressing the newly imposed U.S. tariffs on Pakistani exports.
This decision was made on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a review meeting held in Islamabad on Wednesday. The session focused on boosting national exports and formulating a strategy in response to Washington’s latest trade actions.
The delegation will include top business leaders and prominent exporters, highlighting the government’s commitment to involving key stakeholders in the dialogue process to find a constructive and collaborative way forward.
Prime Minister Shehbaz has instructed the team to negotiate the recent tariff hikes and craft a long-term plan to protect and expand Pakistan’s export footprint in the U.S. market.
The move comes shortly after the United States announced a 29% tariff on imports from Pakistan, following Pakistan’s earlier decision to apply a 58% duty on American products. As a result, Pakistani exports to the U.S. now face a combined 39% tariff—consisting of a 10% base import duty and the newly added 29%.
The U.S. remains Pakistan’s largest single export destination, with trade amounting to nearly $6 billion annually—mostly from the textile sector.
In light of the tariff dispute, PM Shehbaz earlier established a 12-member steering committee to address the issue. Preliminary assessments estimate that the impact of these duties could cost Pakistan between $500 to $700 million.
The review meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister and attended by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ali Pervaiz Malik, as well as senior advisers and officials including Syed Tauqir Shah, Tariq Fatemi, Haroon Akhtar, and Rana Ehsan Afzal.
During the meeting, the premier was briefed on the findings of the steering committee and alternative policy options proposed by a dedicated working group. Officials also confirmed that Pakistan’s embassy in Washington is actively engaging with U.S. authorities on the matter.
PM Shehbaz stressed the importance of Pakistan’s longstanding trade relationship with the U.S. and reaffirmed the country’s intention to further strengthen this partnership. He underscored the need for broad-based representation in the delegation, including all key exporters and business representatives.
PM Reaffirms Willingness to Work with the U.S.
The announcement of the delegation came hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz met with a visiting U.S. delegation led by Eric Meyer, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum.
The Prime Minister welcomed U.S. participation in the event and highlighted Pakistan’s mineral wealth as a sector full of investment opportunities, urging American firms to explore partnerships.
He also reaffirmed the strategic significance of U.S.-Pakistan relations—not just in terms of bilateral trade and investment, but also for broader regional stability and cooperation on security-related issues.
Eric Meyer acknowledged the potential of Pakistan’s minerals sector and expressed interest from U.S. companies in exploring investment opportunities. He conveyed the United States’ willingness to work closely with Pakistan on areas of shared interest.
