Washington DC, July 9, (V7N) — The United States Trade Representative's Office has officially invited Bangladesh to participate in the second round of negotiations on a bilateral tariff agreement, scheduled to be held in early 2025.

The upcoming discussions will once again be led by Bangladesh Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin, with National Security Advisor Dr. Khalilur Rahman expected to join virtually from Dhaka. A delegation of senior officials, including the Commerce Secretary and an Additional Commerce Secretary, has already arrived in Washington DC to prepare for the talks.

This follows US President Donald Trump's announcement on July 7, in which he sent formal letters to the leadership of 14 countries, including Bangladesh, notifying them of significant new tariff measures. In response, Bangladesh was among the first nations to initiate dialogue, engaging in a first round of negotiations on June 27.

Officials on both sides have indicated that constructive progress was made during the initial meeting, and Bangladesh is optimistic about reaching a mutually beneficial tariff agreement in the second phase of negotiations.

Background

President Trump’s July 7 declaration included a 35 percent tariff on Bangladeshi goods entering the US, effective from August 1, 2025, as part of a broader trade realignment involving several countries. Bangladesh has raised concerns over the disproportionate impact of the tariffs and is actively pursuing a negotiated solution to protect its export sectors, which rely heavily on the US market.

Bangladesh’s efforts to resolve the issue diplomatically have been welcomed by trade analysts, who see the early start of negotiations as a sign of Dhaka’s proactive approach to maintaining key international trade relationships.

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