Pakistan is actively considering importing crude oil from the United States for the first time, as part of efforts to offset a trade imbalance that triggered steep tariffs under US President Donald Trump’s sweeping import duties. A government source involved in the matter said the proposal is being reviewed ahead of a high-level delegation’s visit to Washington.
With the US imposing a 10% baseline tariff on all imports and higher rates for countries with trade surpluses, Pakistan finds itself facing a 29% tariff due to its $3 billion surplus with the US. Though the hike is currently paused for 90 days, Islamabad is exploring ways to rebalance trade — including by buying US crude.
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The plan under consideration would involve purchasing around $1 billion worth of US crude oil — roughly equal to Pakistan’s current import volume from existing suppliers like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In 2024, Pakistan imported 137,000 barrels per day of crude oil, totaling $5.1 billion.
A refinery executive familiar with the talks noted that this would not only help diversify Pakistan’s energy sources but could also offer some leverage in upcoming tariff negotiations. The petroleum ministry has yet to comment publicly, and sources emphasized the plan remains in its early stages.
