Pakistan, US discuss trade agreement, economic cooperation in virtual meeting

Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Wednesday held a virtual meeting with Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Rick Switzer to discuss bilateral trade ties, ongoing negotiations and new avenues of economic cooperation between the two countries.

At the outset, Rick Switzer appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional stability and acknowledged its efforts in facilitating dialogue during recent regional developments, a news release said.

He noted that such contributions supported a conducive environment for global trade and economic cooperation.

Responding to the remarks, Federal Minister Jam Kamal Khan appreciated U.S. recognition of Pakistan’s constructive role in regional peace efforts and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to responsible global engagement and mediation.

He emphasised that Pakistan remained focused on promoting regional stability, which he said was essential for global trade, investment flows and economic connectivity.

During the meeting, both sides discussed enhancing bilateral trade, with particular focus on achieving a balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement.

The minister highlighted Pakistan’s interest in expanding trade with the United States across key sectors.

“Pakistan is committed to strengthening its trade relationship with the United States through a balanced, forward-looking framework that benefits both economies,” Jam Kamal said, adding, “We see significant potential in diversifying trade and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.”

The U.S. side acknowledged the potential for further strengthening bilateral trade and reiterated its willingness to work closely with Pakistan to advance ongoing negotiations.

Both sides agreed that a reciprocal and forward-looking trade framework would contribute to sustainable economic engagement.

Deputy USTR Rick Switzer appreciated the constructive approach in the discussions, saying, “We value our engagement with Pakistan and look forward to continued collaboration to advance a balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship.”

Federal Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul noted that Pakistan had already held constructive and positive engagements on ART, with only a limited number of areas still under discussion.

He emphasized that Pakistan’s technical teams remained closely engaged with their U.S. counterparts to address outstanding matters in a constructive manner.

The meeting also covered digital trade and regulatory cooperation. Both sides emphasized the importance of continued technical-level engagement to facilitate progress and maintain momentum towards an early conclusion of the agreement.

Jam Kamal extended an invitation to the U.S. side for a future visit to Pakistan, reaffirming the country’s commitment to further strengthening economic ties.

Both sides expressed confidence in continued positive engagement and agreed to remain in close contact in the coming weeks.