Written by The Banking Post
Dhaka, 8 July 2025 — The 35% tariff announced by the United States on Bangladeshi exports is not a final decision, according to Golam Mortoza, Press Minister at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, DC, as discussions between the two sides are still underway.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Mortoza confirmed that the next round of negotiations is set for 9 July. “Bangladesh is making its utmost effort for a positive outcome, and that possibility is not over yet,” he stated.
The remarks come in response to US President Donald Trump’s recent letters to 14 nations, including Bangladesh, announcing import tariffs ranging from 25% to 40%. In his letter to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Trump stipulated that Bangladeshi goods would face a 35% tariff, effective 1 August.
The new rate is 2 percentage points lower than the 37% initially proposed three months ago. However, it remains significantly higher than the 20% tariff rate granted to Vietnam under a recent US trade agreement. Vietnam is a key competitor in the global readymade garments (RMG) sector.
Each of Trump’s letters included strong warnings against retaliatory measures. “If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by will be added onto the tariffs that we charge,” he wrote.
Officials in Dhaka are continuing efforts to negotiate more favorable trade terms before the policy takes effect.
