FROM PAGE B1

“If the US market opens up further, some countries may face challenges due to competition from American goods. But for Bangladesh, it could actually turn out to be a strategic advantage,” Khan added.

He stressed that the real determining factor will be how effectively the government handles the shifting trade landscape.

“With the right set of policies, Bangladesh can convert this challenge into an opportunity,” he said, expressing confidence that the country’s footwear exports would continue to perform strongly despite the changing tariff regime.

Abdul Muktadir, president of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, said a thorough assessment is required to determine the full impact of the tariffs.

“The announcement appears general, but the real implications will only be clear after sector-wise analysis,” said Muktadir, also chairman and managing director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

He noted that full tariff details are yet to be published, leaving exporters uncertain about the changes affecting individual products.

“We will need to scrutinise tariff cards and other documents to pinpoint the affected items,” he said, urging businesses to stay updated with developments from the US Treasury.

“If duties on key items like electrical products decrease, we could see immediate positive effects. Fortunately, essentials such as soybean and natural gas are already duty-exempt,” Muktadir added.

The export of plastic and agro-processed products to the US will also be affected, according to Kamruzzaman Kamal, marketing director at Pran-RFL Group.

“The sudden increase in tariffs has significantly undermined our competitiveness in the US market. Our tariff rate has now risen to 37 percent while competitors like India face only around 27 percent. This disparity puts us at a serious disadvantage.

“Compared to competitor countries, we are now falling further behind,” he said. “The higher tariff will restrict our access to the export market and make it increasingly difficult to sustain our business.”

He warned that if the tariff is not reviewed through mutual understanding, the situation could deteriorate further, potentially leading to a significant decline in Bangladesh’s market share.