Islamabad:

Former caretaker federal minister of Trade Gohar Ejaz has suggested that Pakistan and the United States begin negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA), suggesting that open market access and customs reductions would be mutually advantageous.

In a statement, Ejaz said Pakistan could allow duty -free imports of US goods as part of a wider trade agreement, while also seeking cuts in customs and taxes imposed Pakistani exports to the United States.

Just one day before Ejaz’s statement, Trump imposed a baseline 10% tariff for almost all US imports and charged even more steeper duties to the most important trading partners – including a 29% duty on Pakistani goods. He accused Islamabad of beating 58% duties on US products.

The former caretaker minister also noted that one of the biggest objections from Washington has been the high customs barriers that Pakistan maintains for US products. “The United States have consistently complained that Pakistan does not allow its products free access to local markets,” he said.