Finance adviser hopes for resolving US tariff issue
On the whole, we've responded positively. We expect that they will cooperate with us the way we're cooperating with them. So, it's a win-win situation... we've highlighted our issue and I hope the issue will be resolved, he says
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed today (8 April) expressed optimism about resolving the reciprocal tariff issue with the United States soon as Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has already sent a letter to US President Donald Trump over the issue.
Describing the matter as one that could lead to a "win-win situation" for both countries, he said, "On the whole, we have responded positively. We expect that they will cooperate with us the way we are cooperating with them…We have highlighted our issue and I hope the issue will be resolved."
It is positive in that sense that it would benefit both the countries, he added.
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He made the remarks while responding to queries of reporters after chairing a meeting on the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held at the Cabinet Division conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat, reports BSS.
Earlier on Monday, Yunus sent a letter to Donald Trump requesting to postpone the application of a 37% tariff on Bangladeshi products in the US market for three months to allow the interim government to smoothly implement its initiative to substantially increase US exports to Bangladesh.
"We are the first country to take such a proactive initiative," Yunus said in his letter, citing the visit of High Representative Dr Khalilur Rahman to Washington DC in February.
Responding to a question, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said the government is yet to get any response following the letter from the Ministry of Commerce to the US Trade Representative.
"Our basic goal is to reduce or eliminate the trade gap. We are conducting various analyses to determine which products to prioritise in this effort," he added.
"Actually, this is a very evolving matter, and it is also a bit difficult to take any kind of decision. As it develops, we will fix our strategies," he added.
Responding to another query, Bashir said they are definitely expecting some positive impact from the government's move to introduce zero import tariffs on around 100 products. "We are making all the necessary hard work and trying to sort out how to minimise the trade gap," he said.
Meanwhile, to address US concerns and reduce the trade gap, Bangladesh has offered to grant zero import tariffs on an additional 100 US goods, bringing the total to 290 items.
A separate letter detailing the actions by Bangladesh was sent by the commerce adviser to the US Trade Representative on Monday as well.
