Dhaka, Aug 01 (V7N) – BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that the historic trade agreement with the United States should not be viewed through a win-or-lose lens. He assured that Bangladesh is currently in a stable position regarding import-export operations, with no immediate threat of disruption.

He made these remarks in response to journalists at his residence in Gulshan on Friday afternoon, following the US decision to impose a 20% tariff on Bangladeshi products, down from the previously proposed 35%.

"There is no win-loss situation here. Bangladesh’s position remains satisfactory, especially in terms of international competition," Khasru said. "We must now explore further tariff reductions in the future and work on diversifying our markets beyond the United States."

He noted that Bangladesh’s 20% tariff aligns closely with Pakistan (19%), Vietnam (20%), and is still lower than India’s 25%, indicating that Bangladesh remains competitively placed.

On whether the tariff revision is linked to Bangladesh’s reported purchase of 25 Boeing aircraft from the US, Khasru stated, "No, that’s a separate matter. The US has always imposed tariffs to boost its own exports. The key question is: how much of this cost can Bangladesh’s economy, business sector, and consumers actually bear?"

He emphasized the need for full transparency, saying, "Until we see the full package, it’s difficult to make a definitive assessment. The interim government should explain the entire scope of the agreement so that the public and business community are well-informed."

Khasru also urged the government to focus on long-term trade strategy, including expanding partnerships with other global economies to avoid overdependence on a single trading partner.

END/RH/AJ