Bangladesh government plans to formally urge the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to reconsider the recently imposed 37% reciprocal tariffs on Bangladeshi exports, calling them irrational and disproportionate. The decision was made at an urgent inter-ministerial meeting following President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement.
Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said Bangladesh imposes an average import duty of just 2.37% on US goods, offering duty-free or low-tariff access to key commodities like cotton, soybean seeds, iron ore, and scrap metal. He argued the new US tariffs ignore this reality and Bangladesh’s significant payments to American tech and service companies.
The government is preparing a detailed response, including a high-level meeting with US Embassy officials in Dhaka. Meanwhile, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is reviewing US claims — particularly Trump’s statement that Bangladesh imposes a 74% tariff on American goods — and is verifying the actual data.
Officials emphasized that while the short-term impact on exports may be limited, the tariffs could raise inflation in both countries, ultimately affecting US consumers. Bangladesh aims to use the diplomatic opening Trump hinted at to push for a more reasonable tariff arrangement through dialogue.
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