Bangladeshi garment exports could receive partial tariff relief in the U.S. if more than 20 percent of their raw materials are sourced from American suppliers, a visiting U.S. trade delegation said Monday.
Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch told the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association that the waiver would apply proportionally to U.S. inputs, though traceability rules remain under review.
Lynch also pressed Dhaka to amend its Labour Act 2006 to meet International Labour Organization standards, which guarantee union rights, fair wages and safe workplaces. BGMEA leaders welcomed recent tariff cuts but urged deeper reductions to strengthen competitiveness in the U.S. market.