Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Trade Adviser to the interim government, has stated that the government's main objective is to reduce the trade deficit. "This is our top priority, and we are actively working on it," he said.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters on Tuesday (April 8), following a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement at the Secretariat.
Bashir Uddin mentioned that, as part of the effort to reduce the trade deficit, a letter has already been sent to the US administration requesting the inclusion of an additional 100 products in the duty-free list. "We believe this move will have a positive impact," he added.
When asked whether there had been any response from the US regarding the letter, he replied, "No, we haven’t received any response yet."
Addressing concerns about public anxiety over the imposition of tariffs, he said, "We are conducting detailed analyses to determine which products can help us reduce the trade deficit. It's a highly dynamic and evolving issue."
He further noted, "As you've seen, the US administration recently announced tariffs on Chinese goods. They might even raise them by another 50 percent. In such a volatile global environment, making decisions becomes more complex."
Responding to a question about whether removing tariffs on 100 products would have a positive impact, Bashir Uddin said, "Absolutely. We are hopeful, and that's why we're putting in the effort. We're exploring every possible way to reduce the trade deficit."
