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Bangla | Thursday | 24 April 2025 | Epaper
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AmCham Rountable Dialogue

US tariff pause offers BD a crucial window for trade recalibration

Published : Monday, 14 April, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 592
Business Correspondent
The American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) assesses the impact of US tariffs and chart a way forward at a high-stakes dialogue at Hotel Sheraton in Banani on Sunday.

Top-level Bangladeshi exporters, US importers, policymakers, economists, and trade officials spoke amid rising concern over potential reinstatement of punitive tariffs.

Speakers made clear that Bangladesh stands at a crossroads. They said the high tariff message was unambiguous, Bangladesh must treat this 90-day tariff pause not as a reprieve but as a launching pad.

The private sector is ready, but policy clarity, infrastructural readiness, and cohesive diplomacy must now rise to match that momentum

The US, as its largest export destination and a core investor, has currently placed a 90-day pause on reinstating its earlier 37 percent tariff.

That grace period has coincided with peak holiday order cycles, a lifeline many factories now depend on.

Syed Ershad Ahmed, President of AmCham, emphasized the strategic significance of the U.S. market and called for reciprocal tariff adjustments through a structured bilateral framework.

He lauded the interim government's efforts but warned that effective economic diplomacy would be key in converting short-term relief into long-term advantage.

LFMEAB President Syed Nasim Manzur, also Managing Director of Apex Footwear, delivered a blunt assessment: without immediate clarity. He said the country risks missing the entire holiday season.

Payment delays, SME liquidity stress, and unrest in manufacturing hubs are looming possibilities. Footwear exports to the U.S, which recently saw 42 percent growth, are under threat.

He suggested a weekly government-backed progress tracker and emphasized the urgency of moving "beyond customs duties" to tackle systemic issues. Non-tariff barriers dominated the discussion.

Speakers flagged persistent problems such as 24/7 customs limitations, inconsistent IPR enforcement, radioactivity testing delays, and outdated HS codes, all of which are undermining investor confidence and complicating trade logistics.

Manzur specifically pointed to the misclassification of hardware and software imports, warning that excessive taxation is strangling Bangladesh's digital future.

The need for backward integration ahead of LDC graduation was a shared concern. Participants stressed reducing raw material dependence on China, especially in synthetics, and leveraging existing opportunities in soy-based edible oils and high-quality U.S. cowhide.

NBR Member Mohammad Belal Hossain Chowdhury confirmed that draft legislation on Central Bonded Warehousing is under review, with reforms aimed at expanding access across sectors and improving lead times. He also confirmed activation of the Bangladesh Single Window system and urged collaboration to maximize U.S. trade potential.

As China faces escalating tariffs, Bangladesh has a rare opportunity to gain U.S. market share. Yet, without rapid regulatory reform, port efficiency improvements, and elimination of trade barriers, the country faces risk of ceding its advantage.

January exports to the U.S. jumped 47 percent due to front-loading, but that surge may flatten unless immediate actions follow, Belal said.



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