A United States trade delegation is set to arrive in Dhaka on Sunday for a two-day visit to discuss further reductions in tariffs on Bangladeshi exports, currently subject to a 20% duty in the US market.
The team from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), led by Brendan Lynch, assistant USTR for South and Central Asia, will meet with Commerce Ministry officials as well as Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam.
Confirming the visit, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said negotiations will focus on securing a tariff cut to 15%. “We hope to make tangible progress during this round of talks,” he told reporters on 11th September.
A draft trade agreement has already been prepared, ministry officials said, and could be finalised with amendments if the negotiations move forward.
On 7th August, the US reduced the reciprocal tariff on Bangladeshi goods to 20% from 35% following several rounds of dialogue. However, a formal trade deal has yet to be signed.
Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin and National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman earlier confirmed that both sides are working toward a 15% tariff. Officials said Dhaka requested more time for negotiations, prompting the upcoming USTR delegation’s visit.
