Prof. Syed Ahsanul Alam Parvez:
It seems to me Dr. Yunus' team is messing issues related to our foreign relations. From the previous regime, China acted as development partner of Bangladesh. With continuous changes in geopolitics it is clear that USA also wants closer geopolitical and economic engagement with Bangladesh. When issues like President Trump's tariff policy came infront Interim Government of Bangladesh (IGB) needs to handel it's economic relationship with more accuracy and precision balance.
To bring a balance in trade between Bangladesh and USA I suggest that Dr Yunus IGB should import a wide variety of items from export basket USA offered us.
Only buying Boeing's will not help much rather IGB should invite American vehicle industry to set up assembly plant heading to manufacturing lower CC vehicles in Bangladesh. This will not only mitigate trade gap but also increase job creation.
Similarly a lot of machinery items from USA may be assembled or manufactured in Bangladesh if IGB offers USA economic zones and lands to interested USA investors.
Bangladesh import from USA is currently limited to Iron & Steel, Oil‑seeds and grains (e.g., wheat, soybeans, Cotton, Organic chemicals, Petroleum gases (including LNG), Scrap iron, Soybeans / soybean oil, Aircraft & aircraft parts. Bangladesh signed a deal on july 2025 to import 700,000 metric tons of wheat annually from the United States over the next five years which will help mitigate the trade gap.
If Professor Yunus (IGB) fails to make finer adjustment regarding trade with USA it is unlikely that President Trump will consider Prof Yunus to reduce recipocal tax.
Writer: Prof. Syed Ahsanul Alam
Gro-political Economist and Chairman, NBER.
