US imposed 30% retaliatory tariff on Pakistani imports, says finance minister

The United States has imposed a 30 percent retaliatory tariff on imports from Pakistan, though the measure is currently suspended for 90 days, Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb told the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Aurangzeb disclosed the development in a written response during the assembly’s Question Hour. He said that Pakistani exporters view the tariff as a challenge, though some believe it could present an opportunity due to higher duties imposed on competing countries.

According to the finance minister, Pakistan’s exports to the United States during the fiscal year 2023–24 stood at $5.3 billion, compared to $2.2 billion in imports, resulting in a trade surplus of $3.1 billion. In the current fiscal year, up to March 2025, exports were $4.4 billion while imports were $1.9 billion, yielding a surplus of $2.5 billion.

Aurangzeb listed garments, medical instruments, and PET-bottle grade plastics among Pakistan’s key exports to the U.S. On the import side, he said the U.S. mainly sends cotton, iron and steel scrap, computers, petroleum products, soybeans, and almonds to Pakistan.

He confirmed that the U.S. had imposed a 30 percent reciprocal tariff on Pakistani goods. “This is currently suspended for 90 days,” Aurangzeb stated.

To address the situation, Aurangzeb said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a Steering Committee and a working group to conduct an in-depth analysis and formulate a policy response.

“The Ministry of Commerce is coordinating with various ministries, departments, exporters, and other stakeholders to devise a strategy to engage with U.S. authorities,” he said.

He concluded that the committee is currently analyzing the potential impact of the tariffs on Pakistan’s trade and economy.