Five Pakistani manufacturers are courting American buyers at a major New York textile exhibition, a strategic move that comes just days after Washington imposed a fresh 10 percent duty on imports from the country. The timing underscores the tension between Islamabad's export ambitions and the mounting trade barriers it now faces. Main Developments The Pakistan Pavilion opened Wednesday at Texworld New York City 2026, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre. Exhibitors include A1 Infinity, MRI Group, Hometex Corporation, Ruqi Sports and Niza Sports, presenting home textiles, apparel, leather garments, sportswear and gloves to an international audience. Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, attended the opening ceremony and called textiles "the backbone of Pakistan's export economy," reaffirming the government's commitment to expanding exports and strengthening commercial ties with the US. The pavilion was organised by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) with the Trade and Investment Wing of Pakistan's Consulate General in New York. Read also: Pakistan's FX Reserves Dip: What the $1.4B Drop Signals Background The exhibition participation follows the Office of the US Trade Representative's imposition of a 10 percent ad valorem tariff on Pakistani imports under Section 301, effective July 24. That measure resulted from a US investigation into enforcement of forced-labour import prohibitions across 60 trading partners, with the USTR concluding Pakistan's enforcement needed strengthening despite the country legally prohibiting forced labour. Trade tensions have been building for months. Washington earlier proposed reciprocal tariffs of up to 29 percent on Pakistani goods before negotiations reportedly lowered the baseline rate. Textiles and apparel dominate Pakistan's exports to the US, with the remainder comprising rice, leather products, surgical instruments, sports goods and other manufactured items. Why It Matters Exporters worry the new duty, combined with rising domestic production costs, could undermine Pakistan's competitiveness in its most important export market. Analysts project the tariff may cut textile exports by roughly $564 million in FY26, with losses potentially exceeding $2 billion should American buyers pivot to cheaper suppliers. Competitive pressure is intensifying from Bangladesh, India, Vietnam and China, while Pakistani manufacturers grapple with high energy prices, expensive financing, rising taxes and logistics costs. The pavilion represents a direct effort to reassure US buyers even as the trade environment becomes less favourable. What's Next With the tariff now in effect, the focus shifts to whether Pakistani exporters can absorb the added costs or pass them on to American consumers. The Texworld exhibition will test buyer appetite for Pakistani goods under the new duty structure, and the outcome may influence how Islamabad approaches future trade negotiations with Washington.