Bangladesh will send two letters to the United States in the next 48 hours specifying its strategies in response to the US reciprocal tariff policy, said officials on Sunday.
One will be sent by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus of the interim government to the US president Donald Trump and the other by the commerce adviser to the United States Trade Representative, said CA鈥檚 press secretary Shafiqul Alam.
Officials of the interim government have been busy after the Trump鈥檚 new tariff policy proposed a 37 per cent tariff on Bangladeshi exports from April 9 in place of the current 15 per cent.
The press secretary was speaking to reporters after officials led by finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed had a meeting with leading businesses of the readymade garments, leather and pharmaceutical sectors at the secretariat.
The US is the single biggest export destination for Bangladeshi goods.
In 2024, Bangladesh exported to the US about $8.4 billion in goods, of which $7.34 billion accounted for readymade garments.
The press secretary said they were taking opinions from the stakeholders to finalise the strategies to be conveyed in the latters.
Finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, planning adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud, commerce adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, the CA鈥檚 high representative Khalilur Rahman, CA鈥檚 envoy for international affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, Bangladesh Bank governor Ahsan H Mansur and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority executive chairman Ashik Chowdhury were present durting the meeting.聽聽聽聽聽聽
Former presidents of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association Fauque Hassan and Rubana Huq, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association Mohammad Hatem, president of Leather Goods and Footwear Association Syed Nasim Manzur and managing director of Square Pharmaceuticals Limited Tapan Chowdhury were among those representing businesses who attended the meeting.聽聽聽聽
Appreciating the government鈥檚 time-bound plans, Nasim Manzur said opportunities could not be harnessed without timely steps.
The business leader said that the opportunity for exporting plastic bags to the US might grow.
The CA鈥檚 high representative Khalilur Rahman assured businesses of giving best efforts for enhancing trades with the US by protecting the country鈥檚 interest.
He reminded that they had been engaged with US officials since February because of the looming tariff policy.
On Saturday, the chief adviser convened a meeting to discuss the US tariff policy that has the potential to change the course of the world order built over the past 70 years.
China faces 34 per cent tariff, Vietnam 46 per cent, Cambodia 49 per cent, and Sri Lanka 44 per cent while India and Pakistan face 26 per cent and 29 per cent respectively.
China has already announced a counter tariff measure signalling a trade war it is going to have with the US.
