Bangladesh’s Yunus congratulates his trade negotiators on securing ‘landmark’ deal with U.S.

Interim government’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Friday (August 1, 2025) congratulated his trade negotiators on securing a “landmark” deal with the U.S., which reduced its tariff rate on goods from Bangladesh to 20%, a significant reduction from the previous 35%.

“We proudly congratulate the Bangladesh tariff negotiators on securing a landmark trade deal with the United States, a decisive diplomatic victory,” Mr. Yunus said.

In a statement, he said by reducing the tariff to 20%, “17 points lower than anticipated”, Bangladeshi negotiators demonstrated “remarkable strategic skill and unwavering commitment to safeguarding and advancing Bangladesh’s economic interests”.

The development came after a series of talks over the past month.

Mr. Yunus said his negotiators worked “relentlessly since February and navigated successfully through a complex negotiating process involving tariff, non-tariff and national security matters”.

“The agreement they negotiated preserves our comparative advantage, enhances our access to the world’s largest consumer market and safeguards our core national interests,” Mr. Yunus said.

Bangladesh secured a 20% tariff rate, comparable to its key apparel-sector competitors such as Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Indonesia, which received rates between 19% and 20%. As a result, Bangladesh’s relative competitiveness in apparel exports remains unaffected, Mr. Yunus said.

He added, by contrast, India received a 25% tariff after “failing to reach a comprehensive agreement with the U.S.”.

“We negotiated carefully to ensure that our commitments aligned with our national interests and capacity,” said Mr. Yunus’s security adviser Khalilur Rahman, who emerged as the lead negotiator in the talks.