A US trade delegation will come to Dhaka today for a two-day visit to potentially finalise talks on Bangladesh’s proposal for reducing reciprocal tariffs to 15% from 20%.

The framework of a comprehensive trade deal has already been finalised and necessary adjustments would be made in light of the talks in Dhaka.

Brendan Lynch, United States assistant trade representative for South and Central Asia, will lead the three-member delegation.in a meeting with Commerce Ministry officials at the Bangladesh Secretariat at 1:30pm.

During the two-day tour, Lynch would also meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam.

However, a deal is yet to be signed, as the final framework was being worked on, and Dhaka sought more time and continued talks on further lowering the retaliatory tariff.

Earlier, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman have both indicated that Bangladesh is pressing for an additional cut in duties, expressing optimism that talks with Washington could bring further concessions.

“We will only discuss the draft of the US tariff issue during this visit,” Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman has told the Daily Sun.

“The delegation itself cannot decide on tariff reductions; the USTR’s central body in Washington will take that decision. If necessary, we are prepared to visit the US for further negotiations,” he added.

Bangladesh has already benefited from the August tariff reduction, which was the result of protracted discussions. Officials believe lowering the duty further would provide a significant boost for Bangladeshi exports to the US.

According to the USTR, total trade in goods and services between the United States and Bangladesh reached an estimated $12.4 billion in 2024, a 3% increase on the previous year.