US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday and discussed several critical issues regarding the bilateral relationship between the United States and Bangladesh.

Ambassador Christensen described the meeting with Adviser Hossain as ‘excellent and productive’.

"Excellent meeting with the Adviser for Foreign Affairs Md. Touhid Hossain...we had a productive discussion on key elements of our bilateral relationship," he said after the meeting which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signaling a continued commitment to diplomatic engagement during Bangladesh’s transitional period.

Ambassador Christensen arrived at the ministry around 11 am, beginning his schedule with a meeting with Foreign Secretary Asad Al Siam. Following the talks, he proceeded to the office of Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain for an in-depth dialogue.

While specific details were not fully disclosed, officials suggest the discussions centered on preparations for the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election and the Referendum, bilateral trade agreements and recent developments regarding tariff structures between the two nations.

Bangladesh has achieved an 'important step forward' towards strengthening its mutually beneficial trade relationship with the United States, opening the door to greater market access and new opportunities for its vital textile and apparel sector, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing last month.

In response to a request from National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman who recently visited Washington DC, US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer has agreed to raise with US President Donald Trump the possibility of reducing Bangladesh’s current 20% reciprocal tariff rate, bringing it more in line with regional competitors.

Under a proposed preferential scheme discussed yesterday by Dr. Rahman and Ambassador Greer, Bangladesh would receive tariff-free access to the US market for textile and apparel exports equivalent to its imports of US-produced cotton and man-made fiber textile inputs, measured on a square-meter basis.

This creative, win-win approach strengthens bilateral trade, supports Bangladeshi manufacturers and workers, and deepens supply-chain ties with US producers, said the interim government.

It reflects ‘growing momentum and goodwill’ in Bangladesh-US economic relations and marks a promising new chapter for Bangladesh’s global trade prospects.

With Inputs from UNB