Islamabad, June 17, 2025: Pakistan and the United States are making tangible progress in their ongoing trade discussions, with both countries moving towards a potential agreement aimed at easing tensions caused by earlier tariff hikes.
In a virtual meeting held on Monday, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick discussed ways to strengthen trade and investment relations.
According to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance released Tuesday, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the talks in a constructive and timely manner.
The discussion centered on expanding mutually beneficial economic cooperation, with particular focus on finalizing a framework for removing trade barriers.
Technical teams from both sides are expected to meet again in the coming days to hammer out the details under a roadmap that has been mutually agreed upon.
Read More: Pakistan Ready for Regional Economic Fallout, Pensions Exceed Rs1tr
“There is strong optimism on both sides to push forward and reach a deal that will benefit both economies,” the official statement noted.
The talks come in the wake of massive tariffs imposed by the Trump administration that hit hard Pakistani exports. While these duties of 29% are currently suspended for a period that ends in July, Islamabad has now stepped up its diplomatic efforts for permanent relief.
Pakistan has already sent a trade delegation to Washington to request better terms in an attempt to reduce the trade imbalance.
Read More: Pakistan Loan Intake Down 15% in 10 Months
The United States remains Pakistan’s largest export destination, with over $5 billion worth of goods shipped there in 2024. By contrast, US exports to Pakistan stood at around $2.1 billion.
Speaking to Bloomberg earlier, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Pakistan is eager to enhance imports from the United States and remove non-tariff barriers, in a bid to reset the economic relationship and avoid further punitive measures.
