According to The Express Tribune, Pakistan and the United States are close to agreement on several key provisions of their proposed reciprocal trade deal. Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul told a meeting chaired by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan that only a few technical points remain to be discussed with the Office of the US Trade Representative.
The review came during Tuesday's meeting between the minister and US Chargé d'Affaires Natalie A Baker, which covered market access and cooperation in agriculture, minerals, technology and investment. Both sides said they were committed to a mutually beneficial outcome.
Mangoes and dates in focus
Market access for Pakistani farm products, especially mangoes and dates, featured prominently. Paul urged a faster visit by US inspection teams for mango export arrangements and progress on the pending market-access process for dates, saying it would open export opportunities, particularly for growers in Balochistan. The US side said it would follow up with the relevant American authorities.
US cotton and soybeans
The two sides also discussed boosting US exports of cotton and soybeans to Pakistan. Paul said competitive pricing and trade financing were key to raising imports from the US, and possible financing arrangements were explored.
Kamal Khan invited American firms to invest in farm machinery, food processing and cold-chain infrastructure, and to take part in FoodAg 2026 in Karachi from November 23 to 26. Minerals and mining cooperation was also discussed.