Two US Delegations Set to Arrive in Dhaka Tomorrow for Trade and Diplomatic Talks

Two high-level US delegations are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka tomorrow, marking the first official visit under the Trump administration, which is expected to usher in significant shifts in both trade and diplomatic policies. One delegation will be led by Nicole Chulick, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), who will be in Dhaka for a four-day visit. The second delegation will be headed by Andrew R. Herrup, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, accompanied by Susan Stevenson, US Chargé d'Affaires to Myanmar.

According to diplomatic sources, Chulick is expected to meet senior officials of the interim government to discuss ongoing reforms and the democratic transition. A foreign ministry official noted that the key agenda of the visit is to explore how the Trump administration’s new policies can align with Bangladesh’s current trajectory.

Unlike the Biden administration—which prioritized democracy and human rights, often exerting pressure on the previous Awami League government through sanctions and visa restrictions—the Trump administration is seen as more transactional, placing less emphasis on such issues. Under Trump, a 37% tariff was imposed on Bangladeshi exports to the US, prompting Dhaka to request a three-month grace period before its implementation. Although most of these tariffs were later suspended for countries other than China, trade concerns remain a central point of discussion.

Bangladesh has also conveyed its willingness to increase imports from the US and reduce barriers for American goods entering its market. Herrup’s delegation is expected to focus heavily on regional security issues, particularly the ongoing Rohingya crisis and instability in Myanmar. Bangladesh continues to host 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, most of whom fled military atrocities in 2017. Myanmar's internal situation remains dire, with ongoing civil conflict since the 2021 coup, compounded by a recent devastating earthquake and rising threats from drug and arms trafficking, kidnapping, and human smuggling—all of which are likely to feature in the upcoming discussions.