Back duty-free entry for US cotton-made RMG: Bangladesh BTMA to NCCA

The textile millers' association also called for permanent waiver of the additional 37-per cent duty on exports to the United States to help expand US cotton exports to Bangladesh.

A letter by BTMA president Showkat Aziz Russell to NCCA president and chief executive officer Gary Adams said the 90-day tariff suspension window presents a "critical opportunity for strategic diplomacy and negotiation", and called for Bangladesh's permanent removal from the list of countries facing the extra duty.

During this grace period, a baseline reciprocal US duty of 10 per cent has been introduced, implying Bangladesh currently faces a total 26 per cent duty on exports to the United States.

A BTMA delegation is scheduled to visit the United States for high-level dialogue with government and private stakeholders, according to domestic media outlets.

The association represents 1,856 member mills involved in yarn and fabric production, dyeing, printing, and finishing, with a cumulative investment worth $23 billion.

BTMA is also preparing to establish a dedicated central warehouse in Bangladesh exclusively for US cotton, demonstrating its commitment to raising the use of American cotton in its production.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)