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Published : 08 Jul 2025, 09:05 PM
The interim government is considering new purchases of Boeing aircraft and military hardware from the United States in a bid to reduce the trade gap and avert the impact of a steep 35 percent supplementary tariff imposed by President Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said the move is part of Bangladesh’s strategy to expand government-level imports from the US in response to tariff pressures.
Speaking at the Secretariat, he said: “If the US relaxes some of the tariffs to boost trade, we’ll provide facilities to increase government procurement from them.”
He added, “Most of our national airline’s fleet consists of Boeing aircraft. Our infrastructure is also Boeing-compatible.
“We’re about to place orders for new planes and have been negotiating with Boeing accordingly.”
The previous Awami League government had committed to purchasing 10 large aircraft from France’s Airbus, but that plan has stalled under the new administration.
This marks the first time a senior official has indicated a shift back to Boeing.
Mahbubur also said Bangladesh would promote US cotton imports, which are already tariff-free, and prioritise American suppliers for government grain purchases.
He said, “This way we’ll expand US trade. Much of our military equipment — especially vehicles and hardware — already comes from the US.”
He clarified that “military hardware” refers primarily to armoured vehicles and support machinery, not weaponry. “There’s no pressure from the US.
“They’ve only asked that we give preference when buying. We’re fine with that.”
The announcement follows a letter from Trump to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on Monday, confirming a 35 percent supplementary tariff on all Bangladeshi exports.
Trump had earlier announced steep duties on over 100 countries in April, including a 37 percent hike for Bangladesh.
Following protests, Yunus requested a three-month suspension and offered to reduce the trade deficit, which led to the current negotiations.
Despite Bangladesh announcing duty cuts on 626 products in its budget, the US reinstated a 35 percent hike, pushing average duties from 15 percent to 50 percent.
The blow is expected to hit Bangladesh’s garment industry hardest as the US is its largest export market.
