Pakistan is facing a critical situation due to the US's imposition of tariffs on its exports, which could destroy demand in the US market and cause price wars among exporters. The country needs to work with US buyers to negotiate tariff reduction and carve-outs from the 29% levy, or explore the US tax provision that allows for a tariff offset based on the value of American content in Pakistani exports. With a 90-day reprieve, Pakistan should focus on sharp exporters who can lead the effort and secure funding from the Export Development Fund (EDF). Importing essential goods like Boeing aircraft, F-16s, HIMARS, and energy resources could also be a viable option to mitigate the impact of the tariffs.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40358030/trump-tariffs-it-aint-over-till-its-overPakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on April 27-28, marking the first time a Pakistani Foreign Minister will be visiting since 2012. The visit comes after the first talks between the two nations in over a decade, held in 2010.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/bangladesh-demands-us-432-billion-apology-for-1971-genocide-from-pakistan/Pakistani Foreign Minister Dar is set to visit Dhaka, marking the first such visit by a Pakistani foreign minister since 2012. The visit comes after years of warming ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, with bilateral trade resuming in February following decades of disruption. Last year, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Bangladeshi leaders twice, including at the United Nations General Assembly and the D8 Summit in Egypt. As part of these efforts, direct private trade began in November 2024, with a container ship sailing from Karachi to Chittagong for the first time in decades.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/a-first-in-15-years-pakistan-foreign-secretary-baloch-meets-counterpart-in-bangladesh-13880767.htmlSingapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has unveiled its campaign manifesto ahead of the May 3 polls, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warning that the global instability brought by US tariffs is a "critical juncture" for the country. Wong stated that the PAP will not gamble with Singapore's future and will be upfront and transparent in highlighting the challenges ahead. The party has introduced 32 new candidates, including 13 women, to lead the nation forward, as it seeks to secure a brighter future for Singaporeans amidst a "changed world" and a "full-blown trade war" between the US and China.
https://channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-pap-manifesto-lawrence-wong-5070251Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced that discussions with a US congress delegation have sparked interest in potential new investments by American companies in Romania.
https://www.actmedia.eu/daily/pm-ciolacu-discussions-with-us-congress-delegation-also-tackled-new-investments-of-american-companies-in-romania/113563US national security aides, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss ending the Ukraine war and averting an Iran conflict. The talks come as US President Donald Trump has been growing frustrated with Russia and Ukraine over the ongoing bloodshed, and has threatened military action against Iranian nuclear facilities. European leaders are concerned that Trump's diplomatic efforts with Russian President Vladimir Putin may be seen as a sign of goodwill being mocked by Moscow, which was criticized for its deadly missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy. Rubio will also meet with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to discuss Ukraine and Iran's nuclear program, while Witkoff plans to fly to Rome for further talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about a potential deal.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40358110/marco-rubio-witkoff-head-to-paris-to-discuss-ukraine-iran-with-europeansUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff are meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and top Ukrainian officials in Paris as part of talks on Ukraine's security, amid concerns about US President Donald Trump's readiness to draw closer to Russia. The discussions aim to advance Trump's goal of ending the Russia-Ukraine war and stopping the bloodshed.
https://www.boston25news.com/news/world/ukraines-future-is/MHVWY6JK5ZFKHFPHCJXOF2ULMA/Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, emphasized the strategic alignment between Sharjah and Hong Kong as two vibrant commercial gateways. The UAE-Hong Kong economic relationship has seen bilateral trade exceed $54.7 billion by November 2024, with Sharjah offering direct access to high-growth regional markets. Al Musharrkh highlighted the open, agile, and investor-friendly policies of both locations, positioning them as natural partners in shaping innovation-led investment.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/business/2025/04/17/invest-in-sharjah-and-srtip-explore-investment-opportunities-at-innoexSingapore's trade minister, Gan Kim Yong, has warned that a recession is possible this year due to the US President Donald Trump's trade war with China. The country has downgraded its GDP forecast for 2025 to 0-2% and faces tariffs on US imports of 10%. A taskforce led by Gan will assess the impact of new developments and develop long-term strategies to address challenges. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has expressed concerns about the uncertainty caused by the potential changes in tariff rates, stating that no company can comfortably plan long-term investments with such uncertainty. The country is set to go to the polls on May 3, marking the first electoral test for Wong as leader of the People's Action Party (PAP).
https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2025/04/17/singapore-forms-economic-resilience-task-force-amid-possible-tariff-induced-recession/173364