Bangladesh’s interim government reported progress in trade discussions with the United States, stating that senior US officials have agreed to consider measures that could reduce tariffs on Bangladeshi exports and enhance market access for its textile and apparel industry. The announcement was made by the Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, following talks in Washington involving National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman and US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer.
Ambassador Greer reportedly expressed willingness to discuss lowering Bangladesh’s existing 20% reciprocal tariff rate with President Donald Trump, aiming to align the country’s tariff treatment more closely with its regional competitors. These discussions were initiated at the request of Dr. Rahman, who is currently on a visit to Washington, with the goal of strengthening the trade relationship between the two nations.
The proposal outlined during the talks focused on providing Bangladesh with tariff-free access to the US market for textile and apparel exports, contingent on the country’s imports of US-made cotton and man-made fiber textile inputs. This arrangement, as per the proposal, would be tied to trade volumes, with Bangladesh’s exports matched to its imports of US textile materials on a square-meter basis.
Described as a mutually beneficial initiative, the proposal aims to support Bangladeshi manufacturers and workers while fostering closer supply-chain connections with US textile producers through increased purchases of American textile inputs. The discussions were seen as a positive step towards enhancing trade ties between the two countries, with the Chief Adviser’s post characterizing the proposal as a promising development for Bangladesh’s global trade prospects.
