ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have made substantial progress on key provisions of a proposed bilateral reciprocal trade agreement, with only a few technical issues remaining for discussion with the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul has said.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The progress was reviewed during a meeting between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker to discuss bilateral economic relations, market access and cooperation in agriculture, minerals, technology and investment, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing negotiations towards a mutually beneficial agreement.
Discussions also focused on improving market access for Pakistani agricultural products, particularly mangoes and dates. Paul stressed the need to expedite visits by relevant US inspection teams to facilitate mango exports and sought progress on the pending market access process for Pakistani dates.
He noted that improved access to the US market could create new export opportunities for Pakistani growers, particularly in Balochistan. The US delegation expressed willingness to follow up with the relevant American authorities.
The two sides also explored opportunities to expand agricultural trade, including US exports of cotton and soybeans to Pakistan. Paul emphasised the importance of competitive pricing and trade financing in facilitating increased imports from the United States.
The discussions covered potential financing arrangements and stronger coordination with trade institutions and industry associations to support bilateral agricultural commerce.
Kamal Khan highlighted Pakistan’s potential in agriculture, food processing, livestock and value-added production, encouraging US companies to invest in modern agricultural machinery, food processing technologies, cold-chain infrastructure and improved farming practices.
He also invited American businesses and agricultural organisations to participate in FoodAg 2026, scheduled to take place in Karachi from November 23 to 26.
The US chargé d’affaires appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to promote agricultural trade and expressed interest in facilitating collaboration between American agricultural technology companies and Pakistani businesses.
Kamal Khan identified dates, olive oil and other agricultural products as promising areas for value addition and export development in Balochistan.
Minerals and mining also featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides exploring opportunities for investment, technical cooperation, skills development and responsible resource development.
The proposed trade agreement and broader economic engagement are expected to provide a framework for expanding bilateral commerce, improving market access and strengthening cooperation across key sectors as negotiations continue.
