Argentina once attempted to revive its domestic industry through tariffs and trade restrictions. It succeeded, albeit briefly. Appliance and auto manufacturing industries kick-started, but were soon thwarted by price inflation and decreasing competitiveness.

President Trump’s tariff frenzy is much more ferocious, but its eventual return on investment is uncertain. What is already apparent, however, is that a seismic shift in global supply chains is imminent, and Pakistan must act soon.

More than 70 nations approached the White House to discuss tariff exemptions this week, seeking to bypass US protectionism. The initial financial shock was sharp; on the morning of April 9, Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped along with London’s FTSE 100.

But markets staged a stunning recovery by day’s end after President Trump announced a 90-day pause on additional reciprocal tariffs for all countries except China. For nations such as Pakistan, the message is clear: this pause is not a pardon; it is a window.

Trump’s new tariffs include a 10% flat duty on all imports and steep retaliatory tariffs on trade surplus countries. Pakistan, which sent $5.4 billion worth of exports to the US against $2.4 billion in imports during the last year, had been facing a 29% rate, which now reverts to the 10% baseline for the duration of the pause. With 76% of Pakistan’s exports to the US in textiles, the impact is still targeted and significant.

A delegation under the leadership of the Ministry of Commerce is set to leave for Washington soon. It is a good start. But given the circumstances, diplomacy alone might not suffice.

While all countries except China now face a 10% baseline tariff under Trump’s 90-day pause, this is only a temporary breather. Countries that were already in the 10% bracket before the pause – such as the UAE, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Australia – were never hit with steep retaliatory duties; as a result, they have a critical head start after the pause.

Some of them have already begun implementing investment incentives, fast-track customs procedures, and streamlined........

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