By Prof. Syed Ahsanul Alam
It seems to me Dr Yunus’ team is messing with issues related to our foreign relations. From the previous regime, China acted as a development partner of Bangladesh. With continuous changes in geopolitics, it is clear that the USA also wants closer geopolitical and economic engagement with Bangladesh. When issues like President Trump’s tariff policy came in front the Interim Government of Bangladesh (IGB) needs to handle its economic relationship with more accuracy and precise balance. To bring a balance in trade between Bangladesh and the USA, I suggest that Dr Yunus IGB should import a wide variety of items from the export basket that the USA offered us. Only buying Boeings will not help much; rather, IGB should invite the American vehicle industry to set up an assembly plant to manufacture lower CC vehicles in Bangladesh. This will not only mitigate the trade gap but also increase job creation. Similarly, a lot of machinery items from the USA may be assembled or manufactured in Bangladesh if IGB offers the USA economic zones and lands to interested USA investors. Bangladesh’s imports from the USA are currently limited to iron and steel, Oilseeds and grains (e.g., wheat, soybeans), Organic chemicals, Petroleum gases (including LNG), Scrap iron, Soybeans/soybean oil, and aircraft and aircraft parts. Bangladesh signed a deal in July 2025 to import 700,000 metric tons of wheat annually from the United States over the next five years, which will help mitigate the trade gap. If Professor Yunus (IGB) fails to make finer adjustments regarding trade with the USA, it is unlikely that President Trump will consider Professor Yunus to reduce reciprocal taxes.