United News of Bangladesh

Thanking US President Donald Trump for his latest decision on tariff issue, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said they will continue to work with the Trump Administration in support of his trade agenda. "Thank you, Mr President, for responding positively to our request for 90-day pause on tariffs. We will continue to work with your administration in support of your trade agenda," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said quoting the Chief Adviser as saying. Facing the cratering of global markets, Trump on Wednesday backed off his tariffs on most nations for 90 days, saying countries were lining up to negotiate more favorable conditions. Chief Adviser Dr Yunus, earlier wrote to US President Donald Trump, urging him to delay the implementation of reciprocal tariff measures on Bangladesh for three months. In a letter, Prof Yunus requested the postponement the tariffs allowing the interim government sufficient time to implement its initiative aimed at significantly boosting US exports to Bangladesh. Trump pauses reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, except for China Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder confirmed to UNB regarding the letter. "We are the first country to take such a pro-active initiative", he said in his letter, citing the visit of High Representative Dr Khalilur Rahman to Washington DC in February. Ever since, the two sides have been working closely to identify specific actions, he said. Bangladesh is also the first country to enter into a multi-year agreement to import liquefied natural gas from the US.

China again vowed to “fight to the end" Wednesday in an escalating trade war with the US as it announced it would raise tariffs on American goods to 84% from Thursday. Beijing also added an array of countermeasures after US President Donald Trump raised the total tariff on imports from China to 104%, AP reports. Beijing said it was launching an additional suit against the US at the World Trade Organization and placed further restrictions on American companies' trade with Chinese companies. “If the US insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end,” the Ministry of Commerce wrote in a statement introducing its white paper on trade with the US. The government declined to say whether it would negotiate with the White House, as many other countries have started doing. Chinese netizens mock US tariffs on social media On Friday, China announced a 34% tariff on all goods imported from the US, export controls on rare earths minerals, and a slew of other measures in response to Trump's “Liberation Day” tariffs. Trump then added an additional 50% tariff on goods from China, saying negotiations with them were terminated. Wednesday's newest measures include adding 11 American companies to a so-called “unreliable entities” list that would bar Chinese companies from selling them dual-use goods. Among the companies are American Photonics, and SYNEXXUS, both of whom work with the American military. So far, China has not appeared interested in bargaining. “If the US truly wants to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation, it should adopt an attitude of equality, respect and mutual benefit,” said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian Wednesday.