Karachi, August 5, 2025 – In the latest episode of CPDI’s podcast “Peace Talk,” host Nousheen Khurram and senior analyst Mukhtar Ahmad Ali took a deep dive into former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, examining their political and economic dimensions.

In the opening segment, Mukhtar Ahmad Ali explained, “Through tariffs, the United States not only generates revenue but also protects its manufacturing sector and claims to create jobs.” He traced America’s rise to superpower status after World War II and its leadership in liberalization, noting that emerging economies like China and India have now challenged its dominance.

The discussion then turned to the contrasting treatment of India and Pakistan under Trump’s tariff regime. According to Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, “India faced harsher tariffs because of its relatively protected economy, whereas Pakistan enjoyed more lenient measures, reflecting both its smaller economic footprint and its strategic multi-alignment.”

Later, the analysts explored possible future geopolitical scenarios in South Asia. Mukhtar Ahmad Ali argued that a new “Cold War” is unlikely—China’s deep global economic ties and demographic heft make simple containment impractical. Instead, he advocated for “multi-alignment,” urging all regional players—Pakistan, India, China, Iran, and the U.S.—to forge cooperation based on shared interests.

In her closing remarks, Nousheen Khurram emphasized the potential for the Global South to negotiate better trade terms by uniting around common goals. “By coming together,” she said, “developing countries can secure fairer deals and address historical injustices.”

This episode underscored that Trump’s tariff policies extend beyond trade tactics, forming part of a broader geopolitical strategy that is reshaping the balance of power in South Asia and beyond.