US envoy meets Foreign Affairs Adviser

Before signing the much-talked trade agreement with the United States aimed at reducing reciprocal tariffs, the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen sat with the Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday and discussed issues of bilateral relations including the tariff issue. 

"Excellent meeting with the Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain we had a productive discussion on key elements of our bilateral relationship," Ambassador Christensen told the reporters after the meeting.

Ambassador Christensen described the meeting with Adviser Hossain as 'excellent and productive', however, he did not elaborate. 

It reflects 'growing momentum and goodwill' in Bangladesh-US economic relations and marks a promising new chapter for Bangladesh's global trade prospects. Dhaka eyes a reducing reciprocal tariff….with commitments to import more American goods to narrow a trade imbalance heavily favouring Bangladesh.

Bangladesh and the United States are likely to sign a trade agreement today (Monday). The details of the agreement were not made public. 

Bangladesh has achieved an 'important step forward' towards strengthening its mutually beneficial trade relationship with the United States, opening the door to greater market access and new opportunities for its vital textile and apparel sector, said the Chief Adviser's press wing last month. 

In response to a request from National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman who recently visited Washington DC, US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer has agreed to raise with US President Donald Trump the possibility of reducing Bangladesh's current 20 per cent reciprocal tariff rate, bringing it more in line with regional competitors.