Pakistan to send high-level delegation to US for trade talks

The Pakistani government has decided to send a high-level delegation to the United States to address the newly imposed 29% tariff on Pakistani goods exported to the US, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed on Wednesday, Azernews reports, citing Tribune.

The decision came after the US imposed heavy tariffs on several nations, including Pakistan, on April 2.

A press release issued by the PMO stated that the delegation would be led by key government officials, along with prominent business leaders and exporters, though the specific members of the team were not disclosed.

The delegation’s primary objective will be to engage in negotiations with US authorities over the newly imposed tariffs and work on a mutually beneficial approach for future trade relations.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised the importance of strengthening Pakistan’s trade relations with the US, which have been ongoing for decades.

He expressed the government’s determination to resolve the issue and further enhance the bilateral trade partnership.

The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sharif in Islamabad, where the issue of the tariff was discussed.

The meeting included reports from the Steering Committee and Working Group, which reviewed the tariff situation and proposed potential actions. Various alternative strategies for addressing the tariffs were presented, and the prime minister was informed that Pakistan’s Embassy in the US had been in continuous contact with the US administration.

Key figures present during the meeting included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.