Dhaka, Apr 06 (V7N) – In response to the 37% counter-tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Bangladeshi exports, the government is preparing to send two letters to the United States, detailing its planned course of action. Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor, Shafiqul Alam, confirmed this development on Sunday (April 6) following a review meeting at the Secretariat.

One letter will be sent to US President Donald Trump from Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, while the other will be directed to the US Department of Commerce and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) from Bangladesh’s Trade Advisor.

According to Shafiqul Alam, discussions are ongoing about the specific contents of the letters. The government's approach will be business-friendly and aligned with national interests, ensuring that any engagement with the United States yields mutual benefits. “The US is the world’s largest market, and we have a significant opportunity to expand our exports there,” he stated.

The review meeting was chaired by Financial Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed and attended by four cabinet-level advisors, representatives of the business community, the Chief Advisor’s High Representative for Rohingya and priority issues Dr. Khalilur Rahman, 10 secretaries, Bangladesh Bank Governor, BIDA Executive Chairman, and other key officials.

Financial Advisor Salehuddin outlined four key action points Bangladesh will pursue in light of the new US tariffs:

  1. Expand bilateral trade between the US and Bangladesh.

  2. Enhance the competitiveness of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector to outshine global competitors.

  3. Broaden imports from the US, not just in goods but also in services, to establish balanced trade relations.

  4. Remove non-tariff barriers through both formal diplomatic channels and informal engagements.

Speaking to reporters, Dr. Khalilur Rahman said that he had spoken to the Bangladesh Ambassador to the US on Saturday, who in turn had discussions with the USTR. “The signals we are getting from Washington align with our current thinking. We are optimistic that the necessary steps will be finalized within the next couple of days,” Dr. Rahman added.

The sudden hike in tariffs has raised concerns among exporters, especially within the RMG sector, which is heavily dependent on the US market. Stakeholders hope the upcoming diplomatic communication will help ease tensions and restore favorable trade terms.

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