Pakistan has officially launched negotiations with the United States concerning the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration last month, according to an adviser to Pakistan’s finance minister.
The US had announced a 29 per cent tariff on imports from Pakistan, part of a broader measure affecting more than 185 countries and territories. The move was justified by Washington on the grounds that Pakistan levies tariffs as high as 58 per cent on goods imported from the US.
On May 30, Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer held a teleconference to initiate discussions on the issue, said Khurram Shehzad, an adviser to the finance minister, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“The talks started with both sides exchanging views in a constructive manner,” Shehzad said. “They agreed that detailed technical discussions will follow in the coming weeks, and both remain optimistic about reaching a swift resolution.”
The reciprocal tariffs were part of a wider US strategy announced in early April by President Donald Trump, who labelled the trade deficit a national emergency. He introduced a 10 per cent tariff on all imports to the US, with higher rates aimed at countries with which America has significant trade imbalances, notably China.
Many of these country-specific tariffs were put on hold shortly after their announcement. On May 12, the US government also announced a temporary reduction of its highest tariffs on Chinese goods, with both countries agreeing to roll back tariffs for at least 90 days while negotiating a longer-term trade deal.
This week, a US trade court ruled against the sweeping tariffs, stating that President Trump had exceeded his authority by imposing broad duties on imports from nations with trade surpluses with the US.
The ongoing discussions between Pakistan and the US come amid this complex backdrop of shifting trade policies and legal challenges.
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