US President Donald Trump has initiated a new phase of his trade agenda, imposing 10% or 12.5% duties on 60 countries, including Pakistan, over alleged weak enforcement of forced-labor bans. These Section 301 tariffs replace previous temporary levies and are the first of several expected actions targeting excess industrial capacity and intellectual property theft. The administration aims to build a more durable tariff wall, with officials stating the strategy to reshore production and shrink the trade deficit remains unchanged. This sustained tariff pressure could impact Pakistan's export competitiveness, potentially influencing the USD/PKR rate and overall economic sentiment for local investors.
بحوالہ / Source: www.brecorder.com