The salt exporters in Pakistan have caused warnings of the last rise in US President Donald Trump’s tariff, describing it as a possible disaster for their makers. The SMAP Association has warned that this step threatens the 60 % market share in salt imports in the United States, undermining the competitiveness of prices and reducing demand.
SMAP ISMail Suttar emphasized that although salt exports are small compared to textiles and surgical commodities, they remain decisive to balance trade in Pakistan. He warned that the American customs tariff – by 29 % – could severely affect exports, leading to poor trade deficit. He said that this step aims to enhance American manufacturing but could be a “fatal” for Pakistan’s economy, especially for small and medium -sized companies that are already fighting intense competition.
With the European Union reassessing its commercial position in response to the actions of the United States, Sotten urged the government to pursue diplomatic negotiations to reduce the customs tariff. He called for an immediate work group to interact with US officials and pay for a decrease in customs tariffs, and warned that failure to act could lead to losses in jobs and additional economic deflation.
