The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has called for duty-free access to the United States market for ready-made garment (RMG) products manufactured using US cotton.
In a recent letter to Gary Adams, President and CEO of the National Cotton Council of America (NCCA), BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell requested support in securing zero-duty access for such products.
A copy of the letter was also shared with Eric Geelan, Political Counsellor at the US Embassy in Dhaka.
Russell urged the permanent withdrawal of the current 37 percent tariff imposed on Bangladeshi garments under the US counter-tariff regime, highlighting that this would foster mutual trade benefits.
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He said granting duty-free access would not only benefit Bangladesh’s RMG sector but also boost US cotton exports.
In 2024, Bangladesh imported approximately $270 million worth of US cotton, accounting for around 12 percent of its total cotton imports.
Russell expressed optimism that this figure could increase four- to fivefold in the near future.
The appeal comes shortly after the US administration, in a 9 April announcement, temporarily suspended additional tariffs for 90 days for 75 countries, including Bangladesh.
Russell said, “This 90-day period has created an important opportunity for strategic diplomacy and negotiations,” while urging for a permanent lifting of additional duties.
As part of its strategy to deepen the use of US cotton, BTMA is planning to set up a central warehouse in Bangladesh dedicated to storing US cotton, which would then be used for exports to the US and other international markets.
The BTMA President reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral trade ties with the United States.
To that end, a 12–13 member BTMA delegation is scheduled to visit the US soon, aiming to engage in high-level discussions with American policymakers and private sector representatives to advance the issues raised in the letter.