STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Bangladeshi exporters remain optimistic about withstanding the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs, hoping that bold diplomacy and a united front at home will shield them from the trade shock.

Manufacturers and exporters see a narrow but promising window to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the US market, as Dhaka signals its intention to reduce the trade imbalance and actively engage with Washington.

To that end, the government will send two formal letters to the US administration within 48 hours, laying out Bangladesh’s plan to address the bilateral trade gap and remove both tariff and non-tariff barriers.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will write to US President Donald Trump, while Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin will address the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the US government’s lead trade negotiation office. Both letters will outline specific policy measures to deepen trade ties and restore confidence.

These initiatives come in direct response to Trump’s new reciprocal tariff regime announced on April 2, which has upended traditional global trade frameworks and triggered re-evaluations in capitals around the world.

Bangladeshi exporters have expressed alarm, warning that the new tariffs could disrupt exports to the US, which remains Bangladesh’s single largest export destination.

Garment manufacturers say the new tariffs, effective from April 9, are likely to provide international buyers with additional leverage to further suppress prices paid to Bangladeshi exporters.

The decision to draft the letters was taken yesterday at a high-level meeting at the finance ministry, attended by four advisers to the interim government, senior bureaucrats and representatives from key export sectors.

Following the meeting, Syed Nasim Manzur, president of the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB), expressed strong optimism.

“From the private sector, we are extremely confident. If there’s a level playing field, we can succeed -- we’ve done it before, and we can do it again,” he said. “It’s the government’s responsibility to create that level playing field. The rest is on us. That’s why a united effort is essential.”

Manzur said the current sense of momentum was driven by the government’s clear and time-bound plan. “We’ve said it before: this has a shelf life. If we don’t act within that window, we will fall behind. But today, I feel we may be able to avoid that. And more importantly, we can overcome it.”

Manzur, managing director of Apex Footwear Ltd, emphasised that all stakeholders were aligned on one core principle: national interest comes first. “Identifying opportunities while safeguarding Bangladesh’s interests is essential,” he said.

“One thing we all agree on is that Bangladesh must not lose its competitiveness, especially not to a rival country,” Manzur added.

He also underscored the importance of broadening the export base. “Of course, RMG is our main export driver. But there’s a world beyond RMG. We’re seeing new sectors emerge,” he said.

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