ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s formal negotiations with the United States on US Reciprocal tariffs kick-started on Friday. The negotiations commenced between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer through a telephonic/conference call. The two sides exchanged their view point through a constructive engagement with the understanding that technical level detailed discussions would follow in the coming few weeks.
Both sides expressed confidence in advancing these negotiations for successful conclusion at the earliest. In April this year, US President Donald Trump had imposed a staggering 29 percent tariff on imports from Pakistan — one of the sharpest economic strikes in recent history. The US remains Pakistan’s top export destination, and according to the State Bank of Pakistan, total exports to the US during the fiscal year 2023-24 amounted to $5.44 billion. Later, Pakistan expressed optimism that the current concerns around US tariffs could be transformed into a mutually beneficial opportunity for both countries. “We want to make sure that we, in terms of our representations, put forward how we see it in the medium to long term as a win-win situation for both Pakistan and the US,” Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb said during a press conference in April.
The finance minister had emphasised that Islamabad views the issue not only as a challenge but also as a chance to deepen economic cooperation with its largest export market. He highlighted that the United States is an important strategic and trade partner for Pakistan, adding that the government is approaching the matter with a comprehensive response plan.
