"Trump’s 35% tariff raises alarm over Bangladesh’s US $ 8.4 billion export industry", 9 July 2025

Bangladesh’s garment industry faces an uncertain future as experts warn that the proposed 35% tariff by the Trump administration could deal a severe blow to the country’s US $ 8.4 billion export sector to the United States...

Trade experts highlight that, currently, a US $ 10 polo shirt shipped from Bangladesh to the US incurs a 16% import duty, raising its price to approximately US $ 11.16. However, if the new tariff is implemented, the same shirt could cost around US $ 15.10, a 51% increase, significantly reducing Bangladesh’s competitiveness...

Dr. Fahmida Khatun, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, emphasised that a 35% tariff would make it “extremely difficult” for Bangladesh to maintain its current export levels, potentially leading to widespread job losses among millions of workers, many of whom are women. She cautioned that the ripple effect could impact banking, transportation, ports, and other sectors integral to the export economy...

Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, chairman of RAPID, noted that if the duties go into effect, Bangladesh’s exports could diminish significantly, with US buyers shifting orders to countries like Vietnam, India, and Pakistan, which face lower tariffs...

Fazlul Hoque criticised the government for excluding private exporters from discussions with the US, calling it a “major failure.”...

...some industry figures remain cautiously optimistic. MA Jabbar, managing director of DBL Group, suggested that...Bangladesh might not suffer a “massive loss” in US market share because Vietnam and other competitors currently lack the capacity to absorb large volumes of orders. Similarly, ABM Shamsuddin of Hannan Group expressed hope that, at least in the short term, Bangladesh’s existing production capacity could help mitigate some of the impact...