Washington (TDI): A senior-level Pakistani delegation arrived in Washington on Monday to wrap up negotiations on a trade agreement aimed at improving strained economic ties with the United States, particularly over steep tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The team, led by Commerce Secretary Jawad Paal, is expected to engage in high-level discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and other key officials from relevant departments.
This round of talks follows more than a month of ongoing deliberations between the two countries. A statement from Pakistan’s Finance Ministry confirmed the momentum, citing recent discussions between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as productive and forward-looking.
According to officials in Islamabad, the focus of the talks has been on reciprocal tariff reductions, part of a larger strategy to realign economic engagement amid evolving global alliances. They also hinted that a long-term strategic and investment pact is under serious consideration, Dawn reported on Tuesday.
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“The negotiations have progressed well, and both sides are confident that the trade accord can be concluded next week,” the Finance Ministry said in its statement.
The momentum was further boosted last week when both governments jointly hosted an online investment forum showcasing Pakistan’s mineral sector, including the high-profile $7 billion Reko Diq copper and gold project located in Balochistan.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business that Washington is working on trade agreements with 18 key economic partners and is optimistic about closing several deals in the near future.
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“If we can lock down 10 or 12 of those by Labour Day, we’ll be in a strong position,” Bessent remarked, suggesting that the timeline for finalizing all deals may stretch slightly beyond the initial July 9 deadline.
President Trump recently said he used economic diplomacy to help ease tensions between Pakistan and India in May, and US officials now see successful trade deals with both South Asian neighbours as a potential stepping stone to greater regional stability and economic cooperation.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
