On April 2, on the occasion of ‘Mukti Day’, President Donald Trump took a surprising step. Under this, about 60 countries exporting their products to the US were imposed counter -duty. Pakistan has also become a victim of this tariff war. The US has imposed an additional 29 percent tariff on Pakistan. Due to which there is a lot of anger in Pakistani media.
‘I knew that day would come’
As an export -oriented economy, which depends on the sale of food products such as textiles, apparel, rice and other manufactured items, Pakistan finds itself especially insecure. Since taking charge of Trump in January, the feeling of fear of tariff has been echoing in the editorial of Pakistani media. The editorial of April 5 wrote, “The question was not whether it would happen or not, but the question was when it would happen.” Similarly, the April 4 editorial said, “We knew that the day was coming. Ever since former US President Donald Trump started using tariff weapons on the global economy, it was only a matter of time that Pakistan would also be aimed at it.”
Government surrounded ‘silence’
Tariff is likely to have negative impact on Pakistan’s export-operated economy. Dawn wrote in his editorial on April 5, “29 percent of the additional tariffs imposed on Pakistan are huge and it can have adverse effects on its exports, of which three-fourths of cloths and garments, which is its biggest export destination.” The newspaper criticized the government’s “silence” on the issue and described it as “ignorant” about how to interact with Washington to ensure concessions for Pakistani exporters. ‘The Nation’ has stated in its editorial that although exports to America are only 1.5 percent of Pakistan’s GDP, this source of income is very important. “Especially for areas such as textile and surgical devices, which have long been dependent on American consumers.” Losing competition in this market will further worse Pakistan’s “already weak economic situation”.
‘It is wrong to put all the blame on Trump’
Other editorials suggest that the problem is within us. The Daily Times argued that it would be wrong to put all the defects on Trump, as Pakistan’s economic problems are before tariffs. The newspaper wrote, “This is not Pakistan’s first economic crisis-and it will not be the last. After years of bailout, emergency reforms and half-incomplete reforms, Pakistan has abstained from taking difficult but necessary steps towards basic economic change.”
Now what should Pakistan do?
Newspapers have reported on several strategies. In the April 4 editorial, it recommended discovering new export markets, interacting on more generous tariff terms with the US and preparing for more competitive global environment. The Daily Times suggested two ways to move forward: “Pakistan can adopt a defensive stance. He can advocate for a discount in tariffs and can make an emergency trade agreement to compensate for immediate loss. Or he can take this moment as a decisive turn for himself, which he needs a tough need.” According to the newspaper, the key to this change is export diversification. Especially in IT services, agricultural technology and high value manufacturing. ‘The Nation’ also saw this crisis as a warning. He wrote, “Pakistan should immediately diversify its trade relations, find new markets and make strong relations with alternative partners. An unexpected economic veteran dependence is no longer durable.”
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