The interim government has proposed a complete withdrawal of import duties on 110 products in the national budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
The decision, part of broader tariff reforms, also reflects the country's preparation for an upcoming trade dialogue with the United States and the transition to a post-LDC (Least Developed Country) economy.
The budget proposes sweeping changes to the import duty structure, including:
Reduction of import duties on 65 products
Full withdrawal of supplementary duties on 9 items
Reduction of existing supplementary duties on 442 items
To further rationalize customs values, the government has also proposed:
Removal of minimum import value thresholds on 84 products
Increase in minimum values for 23 products
A phased elimination of the currently enforced tariff valuation system
“These steps are essential to stabilise the prices of import-dependent goods and align Bangladesh’s trade policies with global market dynamics,” said Dr. Saleh Uddin during his speech. “We have also factored in the importance of our upcoming trade negotiations with the United States and long-term strategies for the post-LDC phase.”
Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed presented the proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, amounting to Tk7,89,999 crore, in a televised speech on Monday.