Staff Reporter :
Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that Bangladesh would seek an extension from the United States should it fail to finalise a trade agreement within the 90-day tariff reprieve announced by the Trump administration.
He made the remarks while addressing the 45th Consultative Committee Meeting of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka. The event was jointly organised by the NBR and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), in the lead-up to the national budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
The FBCCI presented a series of tax-related proposals on behalf of the business community for the upcoming 2024-25 fiscal year. Key issues discussed included the impact of trade policies and tariff impositions on Bangladeshi exports, particularly in the US market.
As part of its efforts to address trade imbalances, the Trump administration had earlier imposed increased import tariffs on goods from numerous countries, followed by a temporary 90-day suspension of the additional tariffs. Bangladeshi exports to the US are now at risk of incurring an additional 37 per cent tariff unless a bilateral agreement is reached. In the absence of a resolution, the effective duty on local exports could surpass 52 per cent, significantly eroding Bangladesh’s competitive edge in the US market.
Shedding light on his recent visit to the United States, Finance Adviser noted that, in addition to engaging with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the delegation held discussions with various US government departments, including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Treasury. Furthermore, meetings were conducted with approximately 80 representatives from US-based businesses.
The Finance Adviser reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing trade and investment, improving the ease of doing business, and creating a more conducive business environment.
