Pakistan, July 20 -- Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has arrived in Washington days before a temporary 10 per cent US surcharge on Pakistani exports, imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act, expires on July 24. A second threat is taking shape under Section 301: the US Trade Representative has proposed another 10 per cent duty after finding that Pakistan has a legal prohibition on forced-labour imports but does not enforce it effectively. His meetings with the USTR, Exim Bank, Development Finance Corporation and IMF must therefore produce more than sympathetic hearings.

Pakistan secured a reduction in the Trump administration's proposed tariff from 29 per cent to 19 per cent after negotiations last year. The legal foundation then c...