The Trump tariffs appear less a product of coherent trade policy and more a negotiating tactic — a dramatic opening bid designed to quickly establish a new tariff baseline as an outside option for trade talks.

The tariff measures are intentionally broad and imprecise, based more on rough, back-of-the-envelope calculations than the usual product- and country-specific analyses that underpin conventional trade policymaking.

This approach is consistent with Trump’s well-known deal-making ethos: start with a sledgehammer to get attention, then negotiate from a stronger position. Already, over 50 countries have contacted the White House to initiate trade discussions.

For Pakistan, understanding this context is crucial. The sharp increase in tariffs on Pakistani exports is not a targeted or deliberate move against the country, but part of a broader global gambit aimed primarily at larger players like China, the EU, and Mexico.

Given Pakistan’s relatively modest trade footprint in the US, it lacks the leverage to retaliate or influence US trade decisions. Instead, Pakistan should treat these tariffs as a temporary headwind and respond with a smart, strategic negotiation plan.

A mutually beneficial approach would be to reshape Pakistan’s import strategy by focusing on US goods and........

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