Bangladesh's US Imports Surge Under ART

Bangladesh's import landscape is shifting as it looks to reduce its reliance on China and India. The country imported $18.19 billion worth of goods from China in FY25, up from $16.63 billion in FY24, while imports from India stood at $9.62 billion, up from $9 billion.

The US has traditionally been an export destination for Bangladesh, but under the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), signed on February 9, it is becoming a major source of imports as well. According to BB data, imports from the US rose to $2.72 billion in FY25 from $2.53 billion in FY24.

The ART encourages Bangladesh to purchase energy, commodities, aircraft, military equipment, and other goods worth billions of dollars from the US. The country has committed to buying up to 7 lakh tonnes of US wheat annually through 2030, under an agreement between the food ministry and US Wheat Associates.

Economists and trade leaders say that while the US can overtake China and India in certain high-value goods such as medical equipment, high-tech items, LNG, semiconductors, and aircraft, it is unlikely to do so in terms of cotton, soybean, and wheat exports to Bangladesh due to its expensive goods and extensive supply chains for these products.