The United States is Pakistan’s biggest export destination. Pakistan’s exports to the US predominantly comprise textile made-ups. Shipments of home textile account for about a 10 per cent market share of the total US global imports. In 2014, Pakistan exported goods worth $3.6 billion and imported $1.5 billion of goods from the US.

The US is one of the few countries where Pakistan enjoys a substantial trade surplus. During the last three years, the annual trade balance has been around $2 billion in favor of Pakistan. But despite the surplus, Pakistan’s total share in the US market is just 0.2 per cent. Pakistan is also a beneficiary of the US Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) program. This provides duty-free access for exports from Pakistan like gems and jewelry, carpets, sugar, cutlery and surgical items. The GSP does not include textile exports from Pakistan for duty-free market access.

About 66 per cent of EU’s and 57 per cent of Chinese exports enter duty-free in the US, but only 12 per cent of Pakistan’s exports get this treatment. The US is also Pakistan’s biggest donor and has contributed over four billion dollars since 2009 to projects relating to energy, economic growth, education, health care and women empowerment.