The Office of South and Central Asian Affairs oversees development and implementation of U.S. trade policy and negotiation strategies for South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and the Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). The office also oversees U.S. trade policy for Iraq and Iran.
Responsibilities include managing the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF) Cabinet-level bilateral trade dialogue, including coordinating the TPF’s four Working Groups (Agriculture, Intellectual Property Rights, Manufacturing, and Services and Trade in Goods) and the Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG). Other areas of emphasis include leading the Trade and Investment Council Meetings under the U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq and the Central Asian states.
South and Central Asia Trade Summary
U.S. goods and services trade with South Central Asia totaled an estimated $263 billion in 2024, up 7.0 percent ($17.2 million) from 2023.
U.S. total goods trade with South Central Asia were an estimated $164.0 billion in 2024. U.S. goods exports to South Central Asia in 2024 were $50.0 billion, up 1.5 percent ($744.3 million) from 2023. U.S. goods imports from South Central Asia totaled $114.0 billion in 2024, up 3.1 percent ($3.4 billion) from 2023. The U.S. goods trade deficit with South Central Asia was $63.9 billion in 2024, a 4.4 percent increase ($2.7 billion) over 2023.
U.S. total services trade (exports plus imports) with South Central Asia totaled an estimated $99.3 billion in 2024. U.S. services exports to Afghanistan in 2024 were $ 52.5 billion, up 16.2 percent ($7.3 billion) from 2023. U.S. services imports from Afghanistan in 2024 were $46.8 billion, up 13.9 percent ($5.7 billion) from 2023. The U.S. services trade surplus with Afghanistan was $5.6 billion in 2024, a 40.3 percent increase ($1.6 billion).
