The deal also includes $3.5b worth of agricultural items, Boeing jets from Washington

Bangladesh will purchase $3.5 billion of US agricultural products and $15 billion of energy products over 15 years, as part of a broader reciprocal trade agreement with Washington signed yesterday.

This procurement value will increase if the planned purchase of 14 Boeing jets by state-run Biman is taken into account. The interim government this week said it is going to sign a deal with Boeing to purchase 14 planes valued at around Tk 30,000–35,000 crore ($2.46–2.87 billion).

“Bangladesh commits to provide significant preferential market access for US industrial and agricultural goods, including: chemicals; medical devices; machinery and motor vehicles and parts; information and communication technology (ICT) equipment; energy products; soy products; dairy products; beef; poultry; and tree nuts and fruit,” said a joint statement issued by the White House yesterday.

The US will cut reciprocal tariffs on Bangladeshi goods to 19 percent from the existing 20 percent, with some products eligible for a zero tariff rate.

A mechanism will also be introduced to allow a specified volume of Bangladeshi textiles and apparel to enter the US duty-free, linked to the export of American cotton and man-made fibre inputs, it said.

The agreement was signed after negotiations spanned more than nine months since April 2025, following the initial imposition of a 37 percent tariff by the US on Bangladesh’s exports to its markets.

The US is the single biggest market for Bangladesh’s exports.

The statement said the deal between the two nations builds upon the longstanding economic relationship, including the US-Bangladesh Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA), signed in 2013.

As per the agreement, Dhaka has pledged to lower non-tariff barriers by recognising US vehicle safety standards, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certificates for medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and removing restrictions on remanufactured goods. It will also digitalise customs procedures, permit free cross-border data transfers, and adopt good regulatory practices.

“The agreement commits Bangladesh to strengthen labour protections, enforce environmental laws, and adopt robust intellectual property standards, including provisions on geographical indications to safeguard US producers of cheese and meat.”

Washington, meanwhile, will consider financing investment in critical sectors through institutions such as the Export-Import Bank and the International Development Finance Corporation, it added.

“Bangladesh commits to a robust standard for intellectual property protection and enforcement, including ratifying or acceding to and fully implementing certain international intellectual property treaties,” the statement said.

The South Asian country has also committed to provisions on geographical indications that will preserve US market access, particularly for US cheese and meat producers who rely on the use of common names, it added.

The statement said both governments would “promptly finalise” the agreement and complete domestic formalities before it enters into force.

News Link: Bangladesh to buy $15b of energy products over 15 years in US trade deal