Mon Apr 07 13:19:22 UTC 2025: ## Bangladesh Seeks Tariff Relief from US

**DHAKA, April 7, 2025** – Bangladesh’s interim head, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend a 37% tariff on Bangladeshi imports for three months. In a letter sent Monday, Mr. Yunus highlighted Bangladesh’s proactive efforts to boost bilateral trade with the U.S., including a recent agreement to import U.S. liquefied natural gas and ongoing negotiations to expand trade in agriculture, energy, and technology.

The request comes as Bangladeshi exporters, particularly in the garment sector, face significant challenges due to the tariffs. U.S. buyers are already halting orders, impacting the country’s second-largest industry, which accounts for approximately 80% of its exports. One exporter, Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahman, reported a halted $300,000 shipment of leather goods.

Mr. Yunus’s letter details steps Bangladesh is taking to facilitate increased U.S. exports, including the establishment of a bonded warehousing facility for duty-free U.S. cotton and ongoing reforms to simplify customs procedures and reduce non-tariff barriers. He also emphasized Bangladesh’s approval of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet network as a demonstration of its commitment to attracting further U.S. investment. Mr. Yunus concluded by assuring President Trump that Bangladesh will fully support his trade agenda. The interim government’s plea underscores the significant economic ramifications of the tariffs on Bangladesh’s recovering economy, which is still recovering from a student-led revolution last year.

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