US chargé d’affaires meets Jam Kamal Khan to discuss trade, mango and date exports

ISLAMABAD: US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A Baker met Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan. The meeting discussed bilateral trade, investment and ways to increase economic cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting was held on Tuesday. The Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Trade and Industry, Rana Ehsan Afzal Khan, and Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul were also present.

According to a statement issued after the meeting, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan said that expanding trade and economic ties with the United States was among Pakistan’s priorities. He said there were wide opportunities for trade, investment and private-sector cooperation between the two countries.

Access to the US market for mangoes and dates

The meeting also held a detailed discussion on access for Pakistani mangoes and dates to the US market.

The commerce secretary said significant progress had been made in the ongoing talks between Pakistan and the United States on a reciprocal trade agreement. According to him, a few technical clauses of the proposed agreement needed further talks with the office of the US Trade Representative.

He said visits by US inspection teams needed to be speeded up for Pakistani mango exports. He said that if Balochistan’s dates gained access to the US market, farmers and exporters would benefit.

The US delegation assured that it would contact the relevant authorities on giving Pakistani agricultural products market access. Increasing imports of cotton and soybean from the United States and the possibility of trade financing were also discussed.

Invitation to invest in agriculture and minerals

The federal minister said Pakistan’s agriculture sector offered wide opportunities in modern technology, food processing and the cold chain. He invited US companies to invest in Pakistan’s agricultural and industrial sectors.

He asked US business organisations to take part in the Food Exhibition 2026, to be held in Karachi from 23 to 26 November.

The commerce minister said Balochistan offered significant opportunities for value addition in dates, olive oil and other agricultural products.

The meeting also reviewed prospects in minerals, mining, technical cooperation and skilled workforce development. The US delegation expressed interest in investing in Pakistan’s minerals sector and increasing technical cooperation.

Both sides agreed to take trade talks forward and strengthen institutional contacts.