Pakistani Exporters Ready to Compete in U.S. Market as Tariffs Reduced to 19%, Says Commerce Minister Jam Kamal

Islamabad:Federal Minister for Commerce **Jam Kamal Khan** has announced that **Pakistani exporters are now better positioned to compete in the U.S. market**, following successful negotiations to reduce **bilateral tariffs from 29% to 19%**—the lowest in the region.

He made these remarks while addressing a high-level meeting on the **U.S. Reciprocal Tariff Framework**, attended by **Special Assistants to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan (Industry & Production)** and **Rana Ehsan Afzal (Commerce)**, **Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul**, senior officials from the **Commerce and Industry Divisions**, and over **30 leading exporters and SMEs** from sectors including **textiles, sports goods, surgical instruments, salt, and IT (apps)**.

Jam Kamal emphasized that, on the **Prime Minister’s directive**, these tariff reductions provide a **strategic opportunity** for Pakistani exporters to **expand their footprint** in the U.S. He urged the private sector to **move forward with a clear roadmap** to seize this opening and boost national exports.

He also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the **Finance Minister**, the **Commerce Secretary**, and the **private sector**, which played a critical role in achieving this milestone. He stressed the need for a **comprehensive export strategy** and continued engagement between government and industry.

Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to **supporting industries** by highlighting **regional advantages** and capitalizing on emerging global **business opportunities**.

Industry representatives appreciated the government’s **trade diplomacy efforts** and called for continued **policy support** to improve **manufacturing competitiveness**, enhance **input accessibility**, and unlock **future business potential**.

Jam Kamal concluded by stating that **all recommendations from exporters** would be **submitted to the Prime Minister** for consideration, reaffirming that **decisive actions and strong public-private collaboration** can lead to significant growth in Pakistan’s export sectors.