Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan has decided to send a high-level delegation to the United States for negotiations aimed at enhancing bilateral trade relations and addressing concerns related to newly imposed US tariffs on Pakistani imports.
The decision was taken on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a review meeting held in Islamabad on Wednesday with the huddle focusing on increasing exports and discussing the Washington’s recent tariff measures.
The delegation will include prominent business figures and leading exporters, reflecting the government’s intent to engage major stakeholders in shaping a mutually beneficial policy.
PM Shehbaz has tasked the delegation with negotiating the newly introduced tariffs and developing a long-term strategy to protect and expand national trade interests.
Islamabad’s move follows Washington’s last week announcement of a 29 percent tariff on goods from Pakistan in response to a 58 percent levies on US products charged by Pakistan.
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Pakistani exports to the US will now face a total tariff of 39 percent, comprising a 10 percent baseline import duty and a 29 percent reciprocal tariff, according to media reports.
The United States is Pakistan’s largest single-country export market, with exports valued at nearly $6 billion annually, predominantly textiles.
Following President Donald Trump’s announcement, PM Shehbaz had formed a 12-member steering committee to deal with the reciprocal levies.
In the meantime, Initial estimates suggest that the said tariff might cost Pakistan between $500 to $700 million.
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Today’s meeting, chaired by PM Shehbaz Sharif, was attended by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahsan Iqbal, and Ali Pervaiz Malik, as well as PM’s Adviser Syed Tauqir Shah, Special Assistants Haroon Akhtar and Tariq Fatemi, Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, and other senior officials.
During the huddle, the PM was briefed on the findings of the steering committee and the working group formed to evaluate the impact of the new tariffs. Different alternative strategies were presented to the forum.
