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Published : 14 Sep 2025, 08:09 PM
Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin has said that if the trade deficit between the United States and Bangladesh could be reduced, then Washington might reduce tariffs on Bangladeshi products.
He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after a meeting with Brendan Lynch, assistant US trade representative for South and Central Asia, according to a Ministry of Commerce media statement.
The advisor said the US delegation had arrived in Dhaka on a three-day visit to finalise a trade agreement between the two countries.
“We had cordial discussions with them,” he said.
After prolonged negotiations, the US had earlier reduced the 37 percent supplementary duty on all Bangladeshi goods to 35 percent, and again to 20 percent.
On Aug 12, Bashir said the government’s efforts to bring down the 20 percent supplementary duty imposed by Washington would continue.
Referring back to that statement on Sunday, he said: “If Bangladesh can achieve its goal of reducing the US trade deficit, then we may expect the possibility of further tariff cuts.”
Bashir also expressed hope that a “reciprocal duty agreement” with the US could be reached soon.
Speaking on the meeting with Lynch, the advisor said: “Discussions were held on the progress of the commitments already made by the US to increase its imports from Bangladesh as part of efforts to reduce the trade deficit.”
“These are mainly in agricultural and energy products, as well as the purchase of aircraft. There has been good progress in the matter of purchasing as well.”
