<h3 data-start="203" data-end="273">🇺🇸🇵🇰 Trump Backs Pakistan Energy Push in Landmark Trade Pact</h3>
<p data-start="330" data-end="621">In a move poised to recalibrate <a title="US" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/business/trump-hits-indian-exports-with-25-tariff/17227" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US</a>-Pakistan economic relations, President Donald Trump on Wednesday confirmed a new bilateral trade agreement with Pakistan, describing it as a &ldquo;historic deal&rdquo; focused not only on reducing tariffs but also on jointly exploring Pakistan&rsquo;s nascent oil reserves.</p>
<p data-start="623" data-end="923">President Trump made the announcement via his platform Truth Social, declaring, &ldquo;We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive oil reserves&hellip; Who knows, maybe they&rsquo;ll be selling oil to India some day!&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="623" data-end="923">&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="623" data-end="923"><strong>ALSO READ: https://www.benefitnews24.com/geo-politics/trump-s-asia-pivot-keeps-india-close-others-closer/15412</strong></p>
<h3 data-start="925" data-end="965">A Strategic Shift in Economic Ties</h3>
<p data-start="967" data-end="1297">Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari extended gratitude to President Trump, stating, &ldquo;I wish to convey my profound thanks to President Trump for his leadership role in finalising the historic US-Pakistan trade agreement&hellip; This landmark deal will enhance our growing cooperation to expand the frontiers of our enduring partnership.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="1299" data-end="1548">While official tariff details remain undisclosed, both sides have confirmed a commitment to reducing reciprocal duties, improving market access, and bolstering cross-border investment, especially in energy, infrastructure, and emerging technologies.</p>
<p data-start="1550" data-end="1843">The deal, concluded in Washington during a high-level meeting between Pakistan&rsquo;s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, marks the first major economic pact between the two nations in nearly a decade.</p>
<h3 data-start="1845" data-end="1896">Oil, Infrastructure, and Strategic Investment</h3>
<p data-start="1898" data-end="2257">Central to the agreement is American support for Pakistan&rsquo;s energy ambitions. With recent offshore discoveries of oil and gas reserves&mdash;estimated between 353 to 500 million barrels&mdash;Islamabad is eager to attract international investment. While President Trump touted US involvement in choosing an oil company to lead the venture, industry experts urged caution.</p>
<p data-start="2259" data-end="2548">Former Pakistani energy regulator Muhammad Arif told <em data-start="2312" data-end="2333">Offshore Technology</em> that while the reserves could reduce Pakistan&rsquo;s dependency on energy imports, &ldquo;the size, extractability, and economic viability remain subject to detailed geological assessments and successful drilling operations.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="2550" data-end="2805">The Pakistani embassy in Washington, in a statement, hailed the agreement as a &ldquo;new era of economic collaboration&rdquo; extending beyond energy to include IT, cryptocurrency, and minerals, and highlighted that the deal also enables US state-level partnerships.</p>
<h3 data-start="2807" data-end="2840">A Broader MAGA Trade Agenda</h3>
<p data-start="2842" data-end="3122">For Trump, the deal aligns with his MAGA initiative, which prioritises bilateral deals aimed at reducing America&rsquo;s trade deficit while unlocking new frontiers in strategic energy cooperation. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not just making trade deals,&rdquo; Trump posted, &ldquo;we&rsquo;re building energy partnerships.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="3124" data-end="3324">Pakistan, long a recipient of security aid, now appears to be repositioning itself as a trade and investment partner, in part due to internal economic pressures and the search for new revenue streams.</p>
<p data-start="3326" data-end="3662">While cautious optimism surrounds the agreement, experts warn that real economic benefits will depend on policy consistency, regulatory transparency, and successful energy extraction. Nevertheless, the US-Pakistan accord underscores a mutual willingness to shift from transactional diplomacy to a more substantive economic relationship.</p>

Pak Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb met USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer in Washington DC

Trump backs Pakistan oil push as landmark trade deal deepens bilateral energy, trade ties

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Trump backs Pakistan oil push as landmark trade deal deepens bilateral energy, trade ties

July 31, 2025 | 16:42 IST