Before the two-month moratorium on US tariffs expires on July 9, Bangladesh is hosting a number of meetings with the US. According to Ministry of Commerce officials, each meeting was well received, and most of the time, the previous tariff rates might be maintained, which is good news for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has asked that the reciprocal tariff be kept to a maximum of 10 percent, despite the fact that the United States delivered a draft of an agreement known as the “Reciprocal Tariff Agreement.” In a meeting with USTR officials on June 26, Bangladesh’s stance was presented by National Security Advisor Dr. Khalilur Rahman.

Bangladesh has taken steps to increase imports from the United States in response to the request to maintain the 10 percent tariff rate. Among these, the decision to cancel wheat imports from Ukraine and buy wheat from the United States, the plan to buy aircraft from Boeing, and the initiative to increase LNG imports are notable.

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said that most of the US proposals have been accepted in the initial discussions. Although there has been talk of increasing tariffs on some items, the Finance Advisor will visit the US to discuss it. He is optimistic that the previous tariff rates will remain the same or the US will agree to an alternative proposal.

However, garment traders say that they are not being informed about the progress of the talks on withdrawing reciprocal tariffs. They also said that there is no progress on the proposal to appoint a lobbyist by the BGMEA.

Bangladesh feels that it is incorrect for the United States to insist that it slap a 74 percent tariff on American goods. At the USTR meeting, Dr. Khalilur Rahman gave a presentation that showed the real tariff rate that Bangladesh imposes on US goods. Bangladesh exported $8.36 billion worth of commodities in 2024, while importing $2.21 billion worth from the US.