US President Donald Trump said representatives from Pakistan will come to the United States next week to discuss trade and tariffs. Pakistan wants to make a deal on tariffs with the US. Trump also said he would not be interested in making a deal with Pakistan or India if the two countries are at war.
Recently, India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed neighbors, had their worst fighting in decades. The clashes lasted four days and involved fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery.
Negotiations on tariffs started last Friday with Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and the US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer holding talks by phone. Pakistan is facing a possible 29 percent tariff on exports to the US because of a $3 billion trade surplus. The US had announced tariffs on many countries last month but paused them for 90 days to allow talks.
The US is Pakistan’s largest export market, and the tariffs threatened Pakistan’s fragile economy. Trump warned he would not make trade deals if India and Pakistan continue military conflict.
The fighting began after India accused Pakistan of a deadly attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, although no evidence was shown. India’s Trade Minister Piyush Goyal recently visited Washington to push forward trade talks, with hopes to sign a deal by early July.
Both countries want to keep trade relations strong despite political tensions. Pakistan and the US are working against a deadline to reach an agreement before tariffs take effect.