Bangladesh is pushing for reduced US tariffs—ranging from 0 to 15 percent—on nearly 6,000 export products in an effort to boost competitiveness, especially for garments, under a proposed economic partnership agreement sent to the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
Government officials say the proposal gained traction following recent changes in US tariff policies for agricultural goods and select Asian economies. The USTR has advised that the request be presented directly to President Donald Trump by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
Bangladesh’s proposal covers a large portion of its 7,458 tariff lines, aligning with international norms requiring broad trade preference coverage to finalize bilateral agreements. The interim government aims to sign the deal before its term ends.
Officials noted that most negotiation issues have been resolved except revisions to the Rules of Origin, after the US set a 40% value-addition requirement for Bangladeshi apparel alongside a 35% tariff earlier this year. The move comes as the US has recently offered tariff concessions to Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia, while also revising reciprocal tariffs on agricultural imports to ease pressure on American consumers.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Babu expressed optimism, saying Bangladesh now has precedents to strengthen its case for duty-free access, which would benefit both countries’ economies.
