Bangladesh and the United States are set to resume discussions on tariff relief for Bangladeshi exports to the US market, as several issues remain unresolved following the second round of bilateral trade talks held in Washington.
According to an official statement issued by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, both sides reached partial consensus during the three-day negotiations but could not finalize all matters. Key issues remain unsettled, requiring further internal consultations.
The statement noted that the two governments agreed to hold inter-ministerial discussions before convening again for the next phase of talks. Future meetings are expected to be held both virtually and in person, with the schedule to be finalized shortly.
The Bangladeshi delegation, led by Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, is returning to Dhaka but remains prepared to travel again if necessary.
Joining the talks virtually from Dhaka were National Security Adviser Khililur Rahman and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Fayez Tayyeb, alongside senior government officials and policy experts.
Following the talks, both Sheikh Bashir Uddin and Khililur Rahman expressed optimism that a mutually acceptable solution could be reached within the designated timeline.
This round of discussions was triggered by recent tariff hikes announced by the US. In April, President Donald Trump’s administration imposed additional duties on products from 57 countries, including a 37% rate on Bangladeshi goods.
Following diplomatic engagement, the US agreed to suspend the new tariffs for 90 days, a moratorium set to expire on July 9.
However, on July 7—just two days before the suspension’s expiry—the US imposed another round of increased tariffs on 14 countries, placing a 35% rate on imports from Bangladesh. This prompted the urgent second round of talks, which began on July 10.
Bangladesh, which relies heavily on the US as a key export destination, is seeking a positive outcome to prevent long-term disruptions to its trade access.
