Pakistani Officials to Visit US for Trade Negotiations, Says Trump

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that officials from Pakistan will arrive in the United States next week as the South Asian nation aims to negotiate an agreement on tariffs. Pakistan could encounter a possible 29 per cent tariff on its exports to the United States because of a $3 billion trade surplus with the largest economy globally, following tariffs declared by Washington last month on nations worldwide.

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Trump stated he would not be interested in negotiating with the South Asian nation or its neighbour, India, should they go to war against one another. The two nuclear-armed adversaries employed fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery during four days of confrontations this month, marking their most severe conflict in decades. "You're aware that we're on the brink of finalising a deal with India," Trump said to reporters at Joint Base Andrews after leaving Air Force One.

Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal recently travelled to Washington to push forward trade discussions, with both parties seeking to finalise an interim agreement by early July. India encounters 26 per cent duties on exports to the U.S. Last week, Reuters indicated that India is expected to permit U.S. companies to compete for contracts exceeding $50 billion, primarily from central government bodies, while it works out a trade agreement with Washington.