WASHINGTON: Pakistan and the United States will begin two days of trade negotiations in Washington on Thursday, with tariffs expected to dominate the agenda as Islamabad seeks relief from new US import duties while pursuing a broader bilateral trade agreement.
The talks, which were held on Wednesday as well, follow extensive negotiations over the tariff regime announced by President Donald Trump on April 2, 2025, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which initially imposed a 29 per cent tariff on Pakistani exports.
A Pakistani delegation that visited Washington in July 2025 succeeded in persuading US officials to reduce the proposed tariff to 19pc following discussions with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), officials familiar with the negotiations said.
Two-day trade talks with US Trade Representative start today
The delegation returning to Washington for the latest round of talks will be led by Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul and includes Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi and other senior officials. Negotiations, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, will also seek to finalise the framework of a new bilateral trade agreement.
