Home
+
Published : 30 Apr 2025, 09:52 PM
Bangladesh is considering asking for an extension to the three-month suspension of the new US supplementary tariffs, introduced earlier this month across more than 100 countries.
Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed said on Wednesday that the interim government plans to engage with President Donald Trump’s administration “without causing offence”.
“We’ll increase engagement with the Trump administration, we’ll negotiate—but we won’t provoke them. They’ve given three months, we’ll seek more if required,” he added.
He was speaking at the 45th Consultative Committee meeting, jointly organised by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at a five-star hotel in Dhaka.
On Apr 2, Trump announced a sweeping tariff hike, which included a 37 percent supplementary duty on Bangladeshi exports.
The average tariff on Bangladeshi goods rose from 15 percent to 52 percent following the move.
After a wave of global backlash, Washington announced on Apr 9 that the new tariff regime would be suspended for three months.
Just days earlier, on Apr 7, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus had written to Trump, urging him to reconsider the decision.
Dhaka now hopes to secure a longer grace period, with Salehuddin confirming that discussions with US agencies and American businesses are ongoing.
The advisor also reassured businesses that the upcoming budget would be “realistic” in light of IMF pressure and the US tariff challenges.
“The goal is to prepare a practical budget—one that ensures efficient use of resources,” he said.
He hinted at reforms to simplify business licence renewals and remove “outdated” legal barriers, saying businesses would soon see changes.
Salehuddin, however, was firm in saying tax exemptions would not be expanded.
The advisor said: “One thing you must keep in mind is that the era of tax exemptions is over. We’re under a lot of pressure.
“Revenue collection must increase to keep the government running and to provide you with incentives—we need to earn that money first.”
“Paying taxes should not be seen purely as an expense. It supports health, education, and social services—your contributions benefit society as a whole,” he added.
