Yunus Urges Trump to Delay New Tariffs by Three Months

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has written to US President Donald Trump, urging a three-month delay in imposing a 37 percent tariff on Bangladeshi goods.

The Chief Adviser’s Office confirmed the letter, saying the pause would allow Bangladesh’s interim government to implement initiatives aimed at boosting US exports to the country.

"We are the first to take such a proactive step," Prof Yunus wrote, referencing High Representative Dr Khalilur Rahman’s visit to Washington in February, which kickstarted joint efforts to identify concrete actions.

Bangladesh has already entered a multi-year LNG import deal with the US and plans to significantly increase imports of American agricultural products like cotton, wheat, corn, and soybeans, benefitting US farmers.

The Chief Adviser highlighted Bangladesh’s regionally low tariffs on US goods and indicated further reductions are in the pipeline for key US exports, including gas turbines, semiconductors, and medical equipment.

To support US trade, Bangladesh will build dedicated duty-free bonded warehouses for US cotton and ease trade procedures by eliminating testing requirements, simplifying customs, and streamlining packaging, labelling, and certification processes.

"Bangladesh will take all necessary actions to fully support your trade agenda," Prof Yunus assured.

Additionally, the Commerce Adviser will send a separate letter to the US Trade Representative detailing Bangladesh's ongoing trade facilitation measures.