As a direct consequence of a pre-announced steep US tariff hike, Bangladesh apparel exporters are facing intense pricing pressure from European buyers. Set to take effect from August 1, this looming tariff is pushing Bangladeshi manufacturers to aggressively seek new orders in the European Union to fill production gaps.
Most US buyers are currently hesitant to place new orders due to the uncertainty surrounding the potential tariff increases. This reluctance has prompted thousands of Bangladeshi exporters to turn more actively to the EU market, where, according to industry insiders, European buyers are capitalizing on the situation by demanding lower product prices.
SM Majedur Rahim, Director, Giant Group, notes, orders from US buyers have halved. Even when US buyers are placing orders, the volumes are small. Some have already offered lower prices for repeat orders, citing tariff pressure. It's unfair to expect exporters to bear the cost of tariffs, he states. Major EU retailers like H&M and Inditex, who also have significant US business, have reportedly cut their order volumes by 10-20 per cent in anticipation of the tariffs.
A 35 per cent reciprocal tariff on Bangladeshi exports to the US is expected. This means that if the proposed tariff is implemented, the total tariff burden on Bangladeshi goods in the US could rise to a challenging 50.5 per cent, up from the current average of 15.5 per cent. European buyers are leveraging this uncertainty to renegotiate and reduce apparel prices. For instance, Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, CEO, Fatullah Apparels, shares, a Dutch buyer offered 25-30 cents less per unit on a $750,000 order, citing ‘Trump-era tariff policies,’ a price he couldn't accept, making factory operations difficult.
The United States is Bangladesh's largest single export destination, accounting for $5.05 billion- or 58 per cent - of Bangladesh's total exports in FY25. Over 800 Bangladeshi firms rely on the US for more than half their exports, making them highly vulnerable.
Industry leaders fear that if Bangladesh faces higher tariff rates than competitors like Vietnam, India, and Pakistan, it will severely impact their export sector, risking millions of jobs and potential labor unrest. This ripple effect from US tariffs, combined with shrinking orders from non-traditional markets like India and South Korea due to other barriers, poses a significant threat to Bangladesh's market competitiveness.
