Bangladesh signs U.S. wheat-import deal in bid to curb tariff pressure

Bangladesh has signed a deal to import 700,000 tonnes of wheat annually from the United States over the next five years, aiming to ease trade tensions and secure tariff relief from the Trump administration, officials confirmed on Sunday.

The agreement, sealed through a memorandum of understanding between Bangladesh’s Ministry of Food and the U.S. trade organisation Wheat Associates in Dhaka, comes just weeks before a planned 35% U.S. tariff on Bangladeshi exports takes effect on August 1.

Officials in Dhaka view the deal as a strategic move to reduce the country’s $6 billion trade deficit with the U.S. and improve prospects for more favourable terms on key export sectors, particularly the garment industry, which accounts for the majority of Bangladesh’s shipments to America.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ali Imam Majumder, Bangladesh’s de facto food minister, said the agreement ensures a reliable supply of high-quality wheat at competitive prices and marks a step forward in strengthening bilateral trade relations. “This move demonstrates our commitment to building mutual trust and expanding economic cooperation with the United States,” he noted.

The impending tariff hike has raised alarm in Bangladesh’s export sector, especially among garment producers who fear a loss of competitiveness in their key U.S. market.

The wheat deal is widely interpreted as part of a broader trade and diplomatic effort to ease Washington’s stance and lay the groundwork for future negotiations.

Commerce Ministry officials said discussions with their U.S. counterparts are ongoing, emphasising that such steep tariffs could severely impact Bangladesh’s access to and performance in the American market.

Bangladesh imports around 7 million tonnes of wheat annually, primarily from the Black Sea region due to cost advantages. Smaller volumes of higher-grade wheat, including from the U.S., are also purchased for blending purposes.

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