Bangladesh optimistic about 'fairer' tariff deal as three-day talks with US begin

Bangladesh has expressed hope of securing a 'fairer' tariff rate on its products exported to the US market.

“We are making progress toward receiving good tariff rates from the US administration. We hope to get a favourable reduction in the tariff,” Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman told reporters over the phone (WhatsApp) this morning after concluding the first day of meetings with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the reciprocal tariff imposed by the US.

The first meeting of the scheduled three-day tariff negotiations was held on Tuesday at 12:30 pm (local time) in Washington, DC with the USTR. The goal is to secure a fairer deal by July 31, 2025, as the 35 per cent tariff on products exported from Bangladesh to the US is set to take effect from August 1, 2025, according to a source.

The first meeting of the scheduled three-day tariff negotiations took place on Tuesday at 12:30 pm in Washington, DC, with the USTR. According to a source, the objective is to reach a fairer agreement by July 31, 2025, before a 35 per cent tariff on Bangladeshi exports to the US comes into effect on August 1, 2025.

Representatives from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce and the USTR attended the meeting.

Commerce Adviser of the incumbent interim government, Sk Bashir Uddin, led the Bangladesh side. National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, and Additional Secretary Nazneen Kawshar Chowdhury were also present at the high-powered meeting.

All members of the Bangladesh delegation remain optimistic about securing a fairer tariff deal during the ongoing negotiations.

The second day of tariff talks is scheduled to begin today (Wednesday) at 9:00 am US standard time, according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, DC.

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