The second round of negotiations between Bangladesh and the United States on the proposed Agreement on Reciprocal Tariff is set to begin today and will continue through July 11 in Washington, D.C., according to Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, in a post on his verified Facebook page.
The talks come at the invitation of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), making Bangladesh one of the first countries to resume negotiations following the issuance of a letter by U.S. President Donald Trump to leaders of 14 countries on July 7.
Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin is leading the Bangladeshi delegation and will attend the talks in person in Washington. National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman is scheduled to join the discussions virtually from Dhaka. Senior officials, including the Commerce Secretary and an Additional Commerce Secretary, are also in Washington to participate in the negotiations.
Officials from the Ministry of Commerce have expressed optimism about the outcome, noting that the discussions will build on the momentum of the first round of talks held on June 27, which both sides described as productive.
Bangladesh hopes to conclude the agreement swiftly, with expectations that it will strengthen bilateral trade ties and enhance market access.
Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday has expressed strong optimism about achieving better outcomes from upcoming trade negotiations with the United States regarding tariffs on Bangladeshi goods.
“We will know more about the developments on the tariff issue after today’s one-on-one negotiation with the USTR,” he said.
He confirmed that U.S. President Donald J. Trump had sent a letter on the matter to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser. Similar letters were sent to leaders of 14 countries. However, the final outcome, Dr. Salehuddin emphasized, will depend on direct negotiations with USTR officials.
“The tariff rate is not final yet. That’s why this direct meeting with the USTR is crucial,” he noted.
When asked about the Trump administration’s proposal to impose a 35 percent tariff on Bangladeshi goods, the Finance Adviser explained that a delegation led by the Commerce Adviser is already in the U.S., and the Commerce Secretary is en route to join the talks. Dr. Salehuddin remains hopeful. “Regardless of the outcome, we will determine our next course of action. But yes, we are optimistic about securing a better result,” he stated.