Pakistan, U.S. back at the table on Reciprocal Trade Agreement

Pakistan and the United States are holding a fresh round of negotiations on the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) in Washington, as the two sides work to convert last year's tariff understanding into a formal, long-term trade framework. Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul is leading the Pakistani delegation, according to media reports. The talks aim to further strengthen Pakistan-US trade relations, facilitate bilateral trade as a driver of economic cooperation, and pave the way for the diversification and expansion of existing trade. The current round builds on a process that has moved in fits and starts since April 2025, when President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff regime set an average tariff rate of 29% on Pakistani exports to the US, placing Pakistani textiles and agricultural goods alongside steep duties slapped on regional competitors such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.