Pakistan emerges with lowest tariff rate of any South Asian country.
Pakistan has emerged with the lowest tariff rate of any South Asian country after the White House announced the new levies Thursday.
The announcement by the United States to slash Pakistan’s tariff rate from 29% to 19% was already being celebrated widely, with the country’s prime minister releasing a statement on X conveying his “profound thanks to President (Donald) Trump.”
Islamabad on Thursday rolled back a 5% tax on foreign digital services that had been introduced a month earlier, a decision seen locally as a goodwill gesture toward the US.
There is also satisfaction locally that Pakistan’s tariff rate is much lower than neighbor and archrival India’s. Fears in Islamabad that India was trying to isolate Pakistan financially have been somewhat tempered by the 25% tariff rate that the Trump administration hit New Delhi with.
“This deal marks the beginning of a new era of economic collaboration especially in energy, mines and minerals, IT, cryptocurrency and other sectors,” the Pakistani Finance Ministry said in a statement Thursday night.
The US is the biggest market for textiles from Pakistan, which is in direct competition with India, Bangladesh and Vietnam, all of which have been slapped with higher tariffs. The announcement is expected to be a boost for the country’s textile sector, which is responsible for close to 60% of the country’s total exports.
Pakistan has moved closer to the US under the Trump administration, with the country even nominating the president for the Nobel Peace Prize in June.
