Bangladesh has emerged as the third largest readymade garment supplier to the United States after China and Vietnam. The country produces garment products that appeal to US consumers.

Trade volume between the two countries has doubled in 10 years. Garment products account for 95 per cent of Bangladesh’s total exports to the US market while US imposes a 15.62 per cent duty on garment imports. Despite sharing an uneven relationship due to labor issues, termination of Generalised System of Preference (GSP) benefits with the US, Bangladesh’s access to the US market continued to increase over time. The US is Bangladesh’s single largest export destination while as a least developed country 97 per cent of the goods originating from Bangladesh enjoy duty-free benefits in the US markets. However, US entrepreneurs are concerned about custom proceeding delays, difficulties in capital and profit repatriation as well as lack of transparency in issuing various trade related licenses.

Alongside the enhancement of product quality, improvement of workplace safety after the 2013 Rana Plaza setback helped Bangladesh regain the confidence of US importers. And tariffs have been no impediment in the country’s ability to access the US market.