Bangladesh to send two letters to US in next 48 hours
Two letters will be sent to the US within the next 48 hours to inform the government of the steps being taken after the Donald Trump administration imposed a 37 percent tariff on Bangladesh’s exports, said Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to the chief adviser. He said that one letter will be sent to US President Donald Trump on behalf of the chief adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus. Another letter will be sent to the US Department of Commerce, USTR, on behalf of the trade adviser.
This information was given to reporters after a review meeting organized at the office of the financial adviser at the secretariat on Sunday, the press secretary to the chief adviser told reporters. The review meeting, chaired by the financial adviser, Salehuddin Ahmed, began at 3:30 pm and continued until 5 pm. Four advisers, four business representatives, the chief adviser’s high representative on the Rohingya crisis and priority issues, 10 secretaries, the governor of Bangladesh Bank, the executive chairman of BIDA and others were present in the meeting. After the meeting, the four advisors spoke to reporters. Business representatives also spoke.
In response to the journalists’ question about what will be in the two letters to the US, Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, “That is being discussed. Everyone present at the meeting gave their opinions. The action plans that Bangladesh is taking will be mentioned in the letter.”
The Press Secretary also said that whatever is in the letter will be business-friendly. The interests of Bangladesh’s business will be considered there. So that both countries can benefit equally. Shafiqul Alam said, “The US is the largest market in the world. There is an opportunity to expand our business further there.”
The Finance Advisor highlighted four points regarding Bangladesh’s action plan regarding the US’s counter-tariffs. He said, one. Trade between the US and Bangladesh must be expanded. two. The capacity of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment sector will be further increased compared to other competing countries, so that the people of the US think that Bangladesh’s products are better than those of other countries. three. Not only goods but also other services will be imported from the US. Four. Non-tariff barriers with the US will be removed, both official and non-official.
Khalilur Rahman, High Representative of the Chief Advisor, said that he spoke to the Bangladesh Ambassador to the US on Saturday. The ambassador spoke at the US Trade Representative’s Office. The signals received from there show that they are in line with Bangladesh’s thinking. He hopes to be able to finalize the steps to be taken in the next one or two days.
Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud said that the steps taken by the US regarding the imposition of tariffs, major economic powers including China are also taking countermeasures. It is not known where the situation will end.
Wahiduddin Mahmud said that efforts will be made to protect Bangladesh’s main export sector, ready-made garments, and said, “The wages of workers in the ready-made garments sector in Bangladesh are among the lowest. It cannot be reduced from this.” Emphasis will be placed on increasing productivity without reducing labor costs. At the same time, efforts will be made to remove non-tariff barriers and increase trade. Bangladesh to send two
Business representative Syed Nasim Manjur said that the steps being taken by the interim government after the imposition of counter-tariffs by the United States have brought relief to the business community. It is understood that the government has a plan. If steps are not taken within the stipulated time, Bangladesh will lag behind. He urged the US government to pay attention to what other things Bangladesh can buy.
At the same time, the businessman said that there are many new worlds for Bangladesh outside the garment sector, and they need to be explored.
