What happened
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met US Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan Natalie Baker at the Finance Division on Monday, 10 August 2026, and said Pakistan had made considerable progress in discussions with the Office of the United States Trade Representative on a Pakistan-US reciprocal trade framework.
A statement from the Ministry of Finance said Aurangzeb noted the progress and emphasised Pakistan’s interest in taking the framework forward on a mutually beneficial basis, “including through enhanced market access, greater export opportunities and increased bilateral trade”. The two sides discussed bilateral economic relations and ways to strengthen economic cooperation.
Aurangzeb briefed Baker on his recent visit to Washington, where he met the US treasury secretary, senior International Monetary Fund officials, the US International Development Finance Corporation and the US Export-Import Bank. He highlighted what the ministry called constructive engagement with US institutions and discussed financing for commercially viable projects in Pakistan.
The wider agenda
The finance minister briefed the US chargé d’affaires on Pakistan’s engagement with international capital markets and efforts to diversify its financing sources, pointing to improved foreign exchange reserves, the sovereign credit profile and access to longer-term financing instruments. The two sides also discussed greater participation by US financial institutions, including the DFC, in Pakistan’s investment landscape, and exchanged views on ports and logistics, energy, telecommunications, digital technology and artificial intelligence.
Aurangzeb described measures to manage the economic situation, including a recently introduced daily price revision mechanism for petroleum products aimed at aligning domestic prices more closely with international markets. He reiterated the government’s focus on fiscal discipline, export promotion and structural reforms. According to the ministry, Baker reaffirmed US support for Pakistan’s reform agenda and expressed continued US interest in trade, investment and economic cooperation.
Why it matters
The US remains Pakistan’s largest single-country export destination, and both governments have sought to deepen engagement through trade and investment. Negotiations on the Pakistan-United States Agreement on Reciprocal Trade were held on 9 and 10 July in Washington.
According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, total US goods and services trade with Pakistan was estimated at 10.1 billion dollars in 2024. US goods trade reached 8.7 billion dollars in 2025, with US exports to Pakistan rising to 3.3 billion dollars and imports from Pakistan increasing to 5.4 billion dollars.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published reporting, not independent reporting. Details and the quoted remarks are as carried by the cited source, which was reviewed on 10 August 2026.
- The Express Tribune — "FinMin notes 'considerable progress' on Pak–US trade framework in meeting with Cd'A Baker"10 August 2026 · The meeting, the ministry's statement, the Washington visit and the bilateral trade figures.
