Washington D.C. – Web Desk: Pakistan and the United States held negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement in Washington DC on July 9-10, 2026, with both sides reporting “significant progress” toward finalizing the pact .

Positive Negotiations

The talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere, according to Tahir Hussain Andrabi, spokesperson for the Pakistani side. Both parties worked to resolve differences and build consensus on common points to finalize the agreement soon .

Secretary of Commerce Javed Pal, who led the Pakistani delegation at the talks, described the negotiations as positive and said they had achieved substantial progress regarding the bilateral trade agreement .

Background

The negotiations come amid broader efforts to strengthen Pakistan-US economic ties. The discussions follow commitments made by Pakistan to improve its industrial competitiveness, with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) having raised concerns about high petroleum levies affecting export performance .

The United States remains one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade exceeding $4 billion annually in recent years. A formal trade agreement could provide a framework for expanding market access, reducing tariff barriers, and enhancing investment flows between the two countries.