Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) organized an important roundtable discussion on Saturday (April 12, 2025), titled “US Tariffs: Counter-Tariffs and Future Discussions”. The meeting held in Gulshan, the capital, was attended by industry leaders and experts and emphasized new thinking on US-Bangladesh trade.
The discussants said that although the US is one of the largest buyers of cotton from Bangladesh, access to Bangladeshi ready-made garments in their market is still limited by various conditions and tariffs. The discussion proposed that Bangladesh should demand a quota for exporting fabrics or garments to the US in return for cotton imports.
BTMA President Mr. Shawkat Aziz Russell said in his speech, “Bangladesh is one of the largest buyers of cotton from the United States. However, conditions need to be attached to cotton imports from there. In that case, Bangladesh can set a quota for exporting cloth or apparel against cotton imports.”
Jonayed Saki, the chief coordinator of the Mass Solidarity Movement, said, “A new political settlement is necessary to increase the capacity of Bangladeshi industrial entrepreneurs in the competitive international market.”
Abul Kalam, Managing Director of Chaiti Group, was also present at the discussion, who emphasized on increasing the internal capacity of businessmen and their active role in international trade policy.
According to experts, after the LDC transition, Bangladesh will have limited duty-free access to the markets of developed countries, including the United States. In this reality, the need of the hour is to find a mutually beneficial solution through timely diplomatic negotiations.
