APTMA urges government to pursue preferential market access for exports to the US

In a letter directed to the Federal Minister for Commerce, The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association(APTMA) urged the government to secure preferential treatment in textile exports to the US.

In the letter dated 11th February, 2026, the APTMA wrote about how regional competitors have secured better tariff deals with the US and how that detrimentally affects the textile industry in Pakistan. "India has negotiated a tariff of 18 percent with the United States, while Pakistan faces around 19 percent. The European Union and India have concluded a free trade agreement. Most recently, Bangladesh has secured zero-tariff access to the United States market for garments and made-ups manufactured with American cotton," read the letter.

APTMA emphasized that losing market access to competitors in an already fragile business environment poses "a serious and immediate threat to Pakistan's textile and apparel exports."

"The industry is already under severe stress due to the highest energy and input costs, interest rates, and taxes in the region, and an overall difficult business environment. Improved market access for competitors, combined with lower input costs, risks further erosion of Pakistan's export share in our largest market." read the letter.

The APTMA urged the government of Pakistan to obtain a similar deal to that of Bangladesh, where the country would get "tariff concessions for Pakistani textile and apparel exports to the United States for products made with American cotton, in exchange for enhanced imports of U.S. cotton."

The letter remarked that such a deal would "support Pakistan's exports, strengthen bilateral
trade, and increase U.S. cotton sales."

The APTMA revealed that they have also approached the American Embassy for "concessional market access."