Pakistan exported roughly $5.9 billion in goods to the USA in 2025, making the US Pakistan’s biggest single export destination. Exports currently face a 19% reciprocal tariff (agreed August 2025) plus, as of July 2026, an additional 10% forced-labor-related tariff layer for some goods. Pakistan does not currently have GSP duty-free access or a free trade agreement with the US, a common but outdated claim. Exporters need TDAP registration, correct HS classification, and standard shipping documentation to get started.
What Is the Current US Tariff on Pakistani Exports?
This is where most guides you’ll find online are dangerously out of date. Here’s the actual 2026 picture:
August 2025: After Trump-era “reciprocal tariff” threats of up to 29%, Pakistan and the US finalized a trade agreement, settling Pakistani exports at a 19% tariff rate lower than regional competitors India and Bangladesh faced at the time.
February 2026: The US Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA-based reciprocal tariffs, ruling they exceeded presidential authority. This didn’t erase the 19% rate Pakistan had negotiated, but it did unsettle the legal basis for tariffs across the board.
July 2026: A new, separate 10% tariff layer tied to forced-labor import policy took effect under a different legal framework than the original reciprocal tariffs, and it does not replace the earlier 19% rate. It stacks on top for affected goods, particularly relevant to textile exporters given ongoing scrutiny of supply chains under laws like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).
What this means practically: the effective tariff burden on Pakistani goods has risen well past the original 19% headline figure. Government data cited by USAFacts shows the average effective tariff rate on Pakistani goods hit 24.9% in February 2026, more than double the 9.6% average from 2024.
A permanent US-Pakistan trade agreement was under negotiation through mid-2026, aiming to replace this temporary arrangement before it expired so this is a live situation, not a settled one. Before pricing a shipment or signing a contract, verify the current rate directly with Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce, TDAP, or a licensed customs broker rather than relying on any single article, including this one.
Pakistan’s tariff vs. regional competitors
| Country | US tariff rate (as of the 2025 deal) |
| Pakistan | 19% |
| Bangladesh | 20% |
| India | Raised to 50% after an additional Russia-oil-related penalty |
| Vietnam | 19% (comparable) |
Pakistan’s rate positioned it more competitively than India in particular one reason Pakistani textile exports to the US reportedly rose around 11% in the deal’s first eleven months.
Does Pakistan Have GSP or a Free Trade Agreement with the US?
No and this is worth stating plainly because it’s one of the most repeated inaccuracies in export guides right now.
The US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program which once gave Pakistan duty-free access on thousands of product lines lapsed at the end of 2020 and has not been reauthorized by Congress. Legislative proposals to renew it have circulated in Congress, but as of 2026 it remains expired. Any article claiming Pakistan “currently benefits from GSP duty-free entry” is describing a program that isn’t active.
Pakistan and the US also do not have a free trade agreement. Trade currently runs on the negotiated tariff arrangement described above, not a formal FTA.
If GSP is eventually reauthorized, it would meaningfully lower costs for Pakistani exporters on the roughly 3,500 product lines that were historically eligible worth tracking, but not something to plan a pricing model around today.
Top Products Pakistan Exports to the USA
Beyond the headline textile numbers, a few categories are worth watching for exporters looking to diversify:
- Leather goods ($173.77M) travel goods, gloves, harness items
- Cotton ($147.24M) raw and semi-processed
- Furniture and prefab buildings ($137.79M) a category that’s grown steadily
- Optical, photo, and medical apparatus ($113.09M) includes Sialkot’s well-known surgical instruments sector
- Toys, games, and sports equipment ($60.32M) another Sialkot stronghold, sporting goods
These smaller categories matter strategically: they carry less tariff-rate sensitivity relative to their margins than commodity textiles, and they face less price competition from South and Southeast Asian rivals.
What Documents Do You Need to Export from Pakistan to the USA?
Every shipment to the US needs a core documentation package. Get this wrong and you risk customs delays, fines, or seized goods.
- Commercial invoice — in English, listing buyer, seller, terms of sale, and a full description of goods
- Certificate of origin — certifies the goods were produced in Pakistan
- Air waybill (AWB) or bill of lading — the shipping contract, detailing shipper, consignee, and cargo
- Packing list — itemized contents, weights, and dimensions
- Correct HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code — determines your duty rate; get this wrong and you’ll either overpay or trigger a compliance review
- Phytosanitary certificate (if applicable) — required for agricultural products under USDA rules
Two clearance tiers matter here:
- Informal clearance applies to non-restricted goods typically valued under $800, with lighter documentation and no customs bond required
- Formal clearance is required for goods valued over $2,500, or for regulated items this needs a customs bond and more extensive paperwork
The $800 de minimis threshold also matters for smaller shipments: goods valued at $800 or less can generally enter duty-free, which is useful for sample shipments or small e-commerce orders, though this threshold has been a subject of policy debate and is worth reconfirming before you rely on it.
How Do You Start Exporting from Pakistan to the USA?
- Register as an exporter. Get registered with Pakistan’s Trade Development Authority (TDAP) and, depending on your sector, the relevant chamber of commerce. This is your legal foundation for export activity.
- Confirm your product’s HS code and current duty rate. Don’t guess misclassification is one of the most common causes of customs delays. A licensed customs broker or freight forwarder can verify this against the current US Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
- Find your buyer and agree terms. Whether through B2B platforms, trade shows, or direct outreach, lock down Incoterms (FOB, CIF, etc.) before you ship this determines who pays for what, and when risk transfers.
- Prepare your documentation package. Commercial invoice, certificate of origin, packing list, and AWB/bill of lading, matched exactly to what’s in the shipment.
- Arrange freight and customs clearance. Work with a freight forwarder experienced in Pakistan-to-US lanes; for formal clearance shipments, you’ll need a customs bond in place before goods arrive.
- Track compliance obligations, especially for textiles forced-labor supply chain documentation is an increasingly active area of US customs enforcement, and Pakistani apparel exporters in particular should keep supply chain records ready in case of a compliance request.
Shipping Costs & Timelines: Air vs Sea Freight
Air freight moves fastest typically 3–7 days door-to-door but costs significantly more per kilogram, making it best suited to high-value, low-weight goods like surgical instruments or samples.
Sea freight is the standard choice for bulk textile and apparel shipments, typically running 3–5 weeks from a Pakistani port (usually Karachi or Port Qasim) to major US ports, at a fraction of the per-unit cost of air freight.
Budget for freight, insurance, the applicable tariff rate on your goods, and customs brokerage fees when pricing an export deal the tariff alone is no longer the only cost that’s moved in the last year, given rising effective rates across the board.
Common Mistakes First-Time Pakistani Exporters Make
Based on the recurring gaps and errors that show up across export guidance right now, the most common missteps are:
- Relying on outdated GSP or tariff information. Given how fast US tariff policy has moved since 2025, a guide or advisor citing 2022-2023 figures can cost you real money on a quote.
- Misclassifying HS codes to save time, which backfires as customs delays or penalties.
- Underestimating the effective tariff rate by only accounting for the headline 19% and missing stacked layers like the 2026 forced-labor tariff.
- Skipping the customs bond requirement on formal-clearance shipments, causing avoidable hold-ups at the port of entry.
- Not verifying current rates before quoting a buyer given the pace of change, a rate confirmed in one quarter may not hold in the next.
Conclusion
Pakistan sent roughly $5.9 billion in goods to the US in 2025, but the cost of doing that trade has shifted sharply: a 19% base tariff plus a new 10% layer as of July 2026, no active GSP, and a permanent trade deal still being negotiated. Confirm rates before you quote, get your HS classification right, and keep your documentation and forced-labor compliance records current the regulatory ground here is still moving.
FAQs
How much does Pakistan export to the USA each year?
Pakistan exported about $5.93 billion in goods to the US in 2025, up from $5.61 billion in 2024, making the US Pakistan’s largest single export market.
What is the current US tariff on Pakistani goods?
A 19% reciprocal tariff has applied since August 2025, with an additional 10% forced-labor-related tariff layer added in July 2026 for certain goods pushing the effective average rate higher. Confirm current rates before quoting, as this remains under negotiation.
Does Pakistan have GSP access to the US market?
No. US GSP expired at the end of 2020 and has not been reauthorized by Congress as of 2026, despite this being a commonly repeated but outdated claim.
What documents do I need to export from Pakistan to the USA?
At minimum: a commercial invoice, certificate of origin, air waybill or bill of lading, and packing list, with the correct HTS code applied. Formal clearance shipments over $2,500 also require a customs bond.
What are Pakistan’s top exports to the USA?
Textiles and apparel dominate, making up over 75% of exports, followed by leather goods, cotton, furniture, and medical/optical instruments.