U.S. Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer joined Bangladesh’s Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin in signing the U.S.–Bangladesh Settlement on Reciprocal Commerce. Photograph: X/@USTradeRep.
Bangladesh on Monday (February 9, 2026) secured a decreased 19% tariff beneath a commerce settlement with america that may exempt some textiles and clothes manufactured with U.S. supplies, interim authorities chief Muhammad Yunus mentioned.
In an X submit, he mentioned Washington had “dedicated to establishing a mechanism for sure textile and attire items from Bangladesh utilizing U.S.-produced cotton and man-made fibre to obtain zero reciprocal tariff in (the) U.S. market”.
Mr. Yunus, identified for his pro-U.S. stance, mentioned the deal was reached after 9 months of negotiations since April final yr.
In accordance with Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, Bangladesh’s key export-earning ready-made clothes (RMG) made out of cotton and artificial fibres imported from the U.S. would take pleasure in zero reciprocal obligation beneath the deal.
He mentioned the settlement was signed in Washington by Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and U.S. Commerce Consultant (USTR) Jamieson Greer.
Commerce Ministry officers mentioned other than cotton, the deal contains provisions for importing U.S. wheat, soybean, and LNG; refraining from imposing tariffs on e-commerce; complying with US-mandated mental property rights requirements; and supporting US proposals for reforming the World Commerce Organisation (WTO).
Bangladesh lately agreed to buy 25 plane from U.S. aerospace big Boeing, with an estimated value of Tk 30,000-35,000 crore (in Bangladeshi forex), as a part of broader efforts to ease the U.S. tariffs.
In accordance with Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the U.S. stays Bangladesh’s largest export market.
The South Asian nation in August final yr secured a discount in U.S. tariffs on its exports to twenty%, down from 37% initially proposed by Washington.
Bangladeshi policymakers earlier mentioned they anticipated the tariff may very well be introduced down to fifteen%.
Enterprise analysts, nonetheless, mentioned the deal provided much-needed reduction to Bangladesh’s attire exporters, because the RMG sector accounts for greater than 80% of its export earnings and employs some 4 million staff, largely ladies, and contributes about 10% to gross home product (GDP).
The U.S. earlier this month introduced reducing tariffs to 18% from 50% for India, searching for New Delhi to halt Russian oil purchases and decrease commerce obstacles.
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The Commerce Secretary mentioned the lately concluded U.S.-India commerce deal might need influenced Washington’s determination to chop the tariff “probably as a result of geopolitical issues”.
Bangladesh’s closest competitor, Vietnam, acquired a 20% reciprocal tariff, whereas Pakistan, Cambodia and Indonesia have additionally been subjected to a 19% tariff.
The event comes as Bangladesh heads for the February 12 normal election to decide on new management and convey an finish to the 18-month Yunus-led interim regime, which took cost after the autumn of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League authorities following a violent student-led road marketing campaign dubbed the July Rebellion.
Revealed – February 10, 2026 02:21 am IST
