The government is pressing ahead with efforts to reduce the US supplementary duty on Bangladeshi goods from 20 percent to 15 percent, according to Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin. Officials believe the reduction has already improved Bangladesh's position in the US market as the duty is slightly lower than the rate for some competing countries. “The US has imposed a 20 percent supplementary duty. We are optimistic.”“We are hopeful that perhaps some kind of agreement can be reached in return for the steps we have taken to reduce the trade deficit. “We will try to reduce the trade deficit by importing energy products from the US.
