Pakistan, April 11 -- In a decisive shift in trade policy, the United States has imposed a 29% import tariff on Pakistani goods, a move that risks destabilizing one of South Asia's key economies. Described by the U.S. administration as a reciprocal response to Pakistan's high tariff wall on American products, the measure affects over $5 billion in Pakistani exports annually.

For Islamabad, the timing could not be worse. After years of economic turbulence, Pakistan was beginning to show signs of export recovery. The U.S. market-particularly for apparel, home textiles, and leather-has long served as an economic lifeline. Now, these sectors face steep headwinds as American buyers seek cheaper or politically safer sourcing alternatives.

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