‘The problem is not out, not inside’, Pakistan was shaken by Trump’s tariff, newspapers opened Shahbaz Sharif’s poll – ryan

Islamabad On April 2, President Donald Trump took a shocking step on the occasion of ‘Liberation Day’. Under this, about 60 countries exporting its products to the US imposed counter -tariffs. Pakistan has also been a victim of this tariff war. The US has imposed an additional 29 percent tariff on Pakistan, which has a huge anger in the Pakistani media.

As an economy on exports – which depends on the sale of food products such as textiles, apparel, rice and other manufactured items – Pakistan is feeling particularly insecure. Ever since Trump took over in January, the feeling of fear of tariff is echoing in the editorial of Pakistani media.

‘Knew that this day is coming’
‘The Daily Times’ wrote in his editorial on April 5, “It was never a question whether this would happen or not, but the question was when it would happen.” Similarly, ‘The Nation’ said in his editorial of April 4, “We knew that this day was coming. Ever since former US President Donald Trump started driving tariffs on the global economy, it was just a matter of time that Pakistan would also be targeted by it.”

Government surrounds ‘silence’
Tariff is likely to affect Pakistan’s export-dependent economy. ‘Don’ wrote in his editorial on April 5, “29 percent of the additional tariffs on Pakistan are very large and this can have a bad effect on its exports, of which three-fourths of textile and textiles, which is its biggest export destination.” The newspaper criticized the government’s “silence on this issue” and described it as “ignorant” that it should interact with Washington to achieve concessions for Pakistani exporters.

‘The Nation’ stated in its editorial that even though the export to the US is only 1.5 percent of Pakistan’s GDP, this revenue source is very important – “Especially for areas such as textile and surgical instruments, which have long been dependent on American consumers.” Losing competition in this market will make Pakistan’s “already delicate economic status” deepening.

‘It is wrong to put all the defects on trump’
Other editorials suggested that the problem is inside. The Daily Times argued that it would be wrong to put all the defects on the trump, because Pakistan’s economic problems are before the tariff. The newspaper wrote, “This is not Pakistan’s first economic crisis-and it will not be the last. After being stuck in the cycle of bailout, emergency reforms and half-incomplete reforms for years, Pakistan has been avoiding taking difficult but necessary steps towards basic economic change.”

What should Pakistan do now?
Newspapers have told about many strategies. The Express Tribune has recommended looking for new export markets in an editorial of April 4, interacting with the US on more generous tariff terms and getting ready for a more competitive global atmosphere.

The ‘Daily Times’ suggested two ways to move forward, “Pakistan may remain defense, lobbying for tariff discounts and emergency trade deals so that immediate loss can be compensated. Or he can take this moment as a turn he needs.” According to the newspaper, the key to this turn is the diversification of exports – especially in IT services, agricultural technology and high value manufacturing.

‘The Nation’ also saw this crisis as a warning. He wrote, “Pakistan should immediately diversify its trade relations, look for new markets and have strong relations with alternative partners. Single, unexpected economic veteran dependence is no longer sustainable.”