Inter-ministerial meet held on proposed US trade deal
Special Correspondent :
The Ministry of Commerce convened an inter-ministerial meeting on Wednesday to finalise Bangladesh’s position on a proposed trade agreement with the United States, amid ongoing discussions on tariffs and bilateral trade cooperation.
The meeting, chaired by Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, brought together high-level officials from key ministries, including Foreign Affairs, Food, Agriculture, and Health. The aim was to gather input from all relevant sectors, given that many aspects of international trade fall under various ministries and regulatory frameworks.
After the meeting, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman stated that Bangladesh is working to ensure a well-rounded and unified stance before entering formal negotiations with the US.
“Since many aspects of import and export are linked to different ministries and governed by their respective laws, we are collecting inputs from each stakeholder before finalising our position,” said Rahman. “Regular meetings on US tariffs will now be held to continue our internal discussions.”
He added that once the consultation process is complete, a formal policy paper outlining Bangladesh’s trade priorities and concerns will be drafted and shared with the United States. Negotiations are expected to proceed based on this document.
When asked about a potential timeline for submitting the proposal to Washington, Rahman replied, “We have inquired with the US side, but they have not responded yet.”
Responding to reports that Indonesia’s tariffs are being reduced to 19%, Rahman said he had no information confirming such a move.
The meeting followed a separate session held on Monday, during which the commerce ministry met with business leaders and economists. Participants reportedly expressed satisfaction with the progress of US-Bangladesh trade talks, while urging the government to avoid any deal that could compromise national interests.
The proposed trade agreement comes as Bangladesh continues to explore avenues for maintaining preferential access to international markets in the post-LDC graduation era.