US Tariffs: India Leads, Pakistan Falters, Bangladesh Adapts, China Struggles

• India secured an 18% US tariff rate, placing it at the top of the South Asian trade hierarchy with Washington.
• Pakistan's effective tariff rate remains higher at 19% with no meaningful carve-outs, reflecting deeper structural weaknesses and narrow export base.
• Bangladesh's recent agreement offers a conditional zero-duty clause for specific apparel, but only if US-produced inputs are used, unlike India's broad benefits.
• India's export basket is highly diversified across sectors, while Bangladesh remains heavily dependent on garments and Pakistan lags in competitiveness.
• India's growing trade footprint with both the US and China reinforces its position as a central node in global trade, unlike its regional counterparts.