Pakistan and the United States have (US) made significant progress toward finalising a reciprocal trade agreement following two days of negotiations held in Washington, with officials from both countries expressing optimism about concluding the deal in the near future.
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According to Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, the negotiations took place on July 9 and 10 in a cordial atmosphere, where both sides worked to narrow differences and build consensus on key aspects of the proposed agreement. He said the discussions reflected a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.
Pakistan’s delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul, who described the talks as productive and welcomed the progress achieved during the discussions. The delegation also included Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Nadeem Chaudhary and Joint Secretary Tariff Policy Ashfaq Khan, while officials from several other ministries participated virtually.
The proposed reciprocal trade agreement is aimed at expanding bilateral trade, improving market access and encouraging investment in sectors of mutual interest. Officials from both countries remain engaged in efforts to finalise the agreement at the earliest opportunity.
Pakistan and the United States had previously reached a trade understanding in July last year that focused on reducing reciprocal tariffs, particularly on Pakistani exports to the American market. The framework also envisioned greater cooperation in sectors such as energy, minerals, information technology and digital innovation.
As part of earlier negotiations with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Washington reduced the proposed reciprocal tariff on Pakistani exports from 29 percent to 19 percent. However, the implementation of that arrangement was affected after a ruling by the US Supreme Court overturned the legal basis for the tariff policy introduced under emergency powers.
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The current round of negotiations seeks to establish a stable and mutually beneficial trade framework that supports long-term commercial ties between the two countries. Officials from both sides expressed confidence that continued engagement would help achieve an agreement that benefits businesses, investors and consumers alike.