Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed expressed his high optimism about achieving a much better result during the one-to-one negotiation meeting with the USTR in the US.
"After the meeting scheduled for Tuesday in the US (early morning in Bangladesh on Wednesday), we will be able to know about further developments on the tariff issue," he said, replying to reporters’ queries after chairing two separate meetings of the Advisers Council Committee on Economic Affairs and the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Dr Salehuddin said US President Donald J Trump has sent a letter to the chief adviser on the tariff issue, but the Bangladesh delegation will hold a meeting with the USTR. "Only then will we be able to know the matter in detail."
He said the US president has issued such letters to some 14 countries, and Bangladesh is one of them.
"The final tariff will be fixed in the one-to-one negotiation with the USTR. That's why we will have our meeting with them (USTR); the rate is not final yet," he told reporters.
Asked about Trump's plan to impose a 35 percent tariff on Bangladeshi goods, the Finance Adviser said the Bangladesh delegation is already there, headed by the commerce adviser, while the commerce secretary will be heading to the US on Tuesday.
Replying to a question, he said they are definitely hopeful of getting a better result from the meeting. "No matter what happens, we'll set our future course of action."
