Washington: The Minister of Finance, Muhammad Aurengzeb, will be in the United States next week for meetings with the IMF and the World Bank, a visit that has acquired greater urgency amid the concerns of an imminent commercial crisis after tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
The minister is scheduled to arrive in Washington on April 21 to attend Spring 2025 meetings of the IMF and the World Bank.
Diplomatic sources suggest that the Minister of Finance can use the visit to commit to US officials on the 29 percent proposed rate, imposed by the Trump administration on Pakistani goods.
Pakistan is among the 75 countries that have agreed to hold direct conversations with the USA on the issue of steep tariffs.
The delegation to maintain tariff negotiations can do the same
Spring meetings, scheduled for April 21 to 26, will bring together finance ministers, central bankers and development experts around the world.
Aungzeb is also expected to celebrate consultations with the IMF and other international financial institutions on the implications of these rates.
It is expected that institutions such as the IMF, which play a key role in the configuration of the Pakistan Economic Reform Agenda, guide Islamabad on how to manage
The expected consequences of these rates while continuing their recovery of recent financial clashes.
Islamabad’s concern arose from the recent announcement of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, from a new tariff regime aimed at correcting global commercial imbalances.
Although the proposed tariffs have been suspended for 90 days, Pakistan’s largest export market still threatens.
It is likely that the aungzeb trip will be followed by a visit from a Pakistani commercial delegation for formal conversations with US officials about the proposed rates.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that a delegation would travel to Washington to participate in tariff conversations.
The delegation will be directed by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan.
The authorities say that the delegation will re -calibrate its negotiation position based on the consultations of Mr. Aurengzeb in Washington.
“The meetings of the Minister of Finance will help Islamabad understand how other countries are reacting to the United States Tariff proposal,” said a diplomatic source. Sunrise.
“It will also allow Pakistan to prepare a more informed response before formal commercial negotiations begin.”
Posted in Dawn, April 15, 2025
