Trade Advisor meets US delegation

Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin said that the US trade delegation visiting Dhaka has assured to reduce the countervailing duties imposed on Bangladeshi products if the trade deficit decreases.

Bashiruddin told reporters after a meeting with the visiting delegation led by US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch at the Secretariat on Sunday (September 14).

The delegation has come to Dhaka on a three-day visit to finalize the trade agreement between the two countries based on discussions and agreements on further reducing the additional 20 percent countervailing duties imposed on Bangladeshi products in the US market.

Regarding the meeting, Sheikh Bashiruddin said, "I sat with their team today in continuation of the ongoing discussions we have. We discussed the discussions that were going on regarding our agreement framework, country-specific commitments, with reference to our joint declaration today."

Stating that there were no specific discussions, the trade advisor said, "We have requested them to reconsider their tariffs downwards in view of the reduction in the trade deficit. They have assured us. There is a possibility of reducing tariffs." At that time, he said that there is no tariff agreement with the United States yet. Bashiruddin further said, "These discussions are taking place with the aim of making an agreement. These discussions are taking place with the aim of finalizing the issues that are being discussed, the agreement. We have reviewed the progress of the goods that we have discussed. We have reviewed the progress of the various things that we have committed to buy (from the United States), including aircraft."