Local textile millers yesterday sought duty-free export facilities to the USA for garment items produced in Bangladesh using American cotton.

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), a platform for the primary textile sector, made the call through two letters — one sent to Gary Adams, president and CEO of the National Cotton Council of America, and another to Eric Geelan, counsellor for political/economic affairs at the US embassy in Bangladesh.

In the letters, BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell also urged the US government to permanently remove Bangladesh from the list of countries subject to the additional duty.

Earlier, on April 2, US President Donald Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs on various countries; for Bangladesh, the rate was set at 37 percent. However, Trump issued a 90-day pause on imposing new tariffs, while maintaining a 10 percent baseline tariff rate.

"We are confident that these measures will significantly boost bilateral trade and further embed US cotton into global supply chains via Bangladesh's growing ready-made garment (RMG) industry," said the BTMA president.

"BTMA is committed to prioritising US cotton in a substantial portion of our production, much of which is exported to the US and other global markets."

To support this vision, BTMA highlighted several government initiatives currently underway, including the establishment of a central warehouse in Bangladesh dedicated exclusively to US cotton, aimed at quadrupling import volume.

The Bangladesh government has expressed a strong commitment to strengthening trade ties with the United States, particularly in cotton and textiles, the BTMA president said in the letters.

He also referenced comprehensive proposals made by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus directly to US President Donald J. Trump, outlining a strategic roadmap for mutual economic growth.

"Additionally, we are preparing to send an official BTMA delegation to the United States, in collaboration with the National Cotton Council of America, at the earliest possible date," Russell said.

"This mission, comprising 12–13 representatives, will engage in high-level dialogue and negotiations with key US government and private sector stakeholders to advance our shared goals," the BTMA stated.

In both letters, the BTMA noted that it is a trade body representing 1,856 member mills engaged in yarn and fabric manufacturing, dyeing, printing, and finishing — and has been a cornerstone of Bangladesh's industrial and export economy.

To date, the textile sector has attracted cumulative investments of over $23 billion, the association added.

"On behalf of Bangladesh's textile and apparel industry, we express our appreciation for the enduring and fruitful partnership with the United States," the letter said, adding that in 2024, Bangladesh imported approximately $270 million worth of US cotton, accounting for around 12 percent of the country's total cotton imports.

"We strongly believe this volume can be increased by four to five times in the near future with mutual collaboration and policy support," Russell also stated.

Over 90 percent of total exports to the USA are garment items, which face over 15 percent duty, while Bangladesh levies 2.2 percent duty on imports of US goods.

Alongside the chief adviser's letter to the Trump administration, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, in a separate letter sent to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, offered zero-duty benefits to 100 additional US goods, on top of the existing 190 products.