Bangladesh
No retaliatory measures
Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment exporter after China, and the 37% reciprocal tariff strikes at the very foundation of the country's economy. Clothing and textiles account for 85% of Bangladesh's exports and employ 4 million workers, predominantly women. The tariff threatens not just trade flows but the economic development model that has lifted millions out of poverty.
Current Tariff
📊37%
Was 15.1%
US Imports
📥$9.4B
2024 total
US Exports
📤$2.1B
2024 total
Trade Balance
⚖️$-7.3B
US deficit
Trade Flow (2024)
Tariff Rate Change
📈 5-Year Import Trend
📋 Trade Relationship Analysis
Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment exporter after China, and the 37% reciprocal tariff strikes at the very foundation of the country's economy. Clothing and textiles account for 85% of Bangladesh's exports and employ 4 million workers, predominantly women. The tariff threatens not just trade flows but the economic development model that has lifted millions out of poverty.
American fast fashion brands — H&M, Gap, Walmart, Target — rely heavily on Bangladeshi factories for affordable clothing. The $9.4 billion in imports represents millions of T-shirts, jeans, and basic garments that fill American closets. A 37% tariff, up from 15.1%, adds $3-8 per garment on goods that often retail for under $20.
Bangladesh already faced the highest pre-2025 tariffs of any country in this group at 15.1% — it never had preferential GSP access for clothing. The 37% rate makes Bangladeshi garments more expensive than Chinese ones (at 30%), potentially shifting orders back to China — an ironic reversal of the supply chain diversification the US had encouraged.
Bangladesh has not retaliated — it lacks the economic leverage to do so. The country's GDP per capita is approximately $2,700, making it one of the poorest nations on this list. Human rights organizations warn that tariff-driven factory closures could push vulnerable workers, especially women, back into poverty.
Tariff Impact
Pre-2025
15.1%
Current
37%
Increase
+21.9%
🏷️ Top Imported Products
| Product | Tariff Rate | Import Value | Price Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Shirts & Knitwear | 37% | $3.2B | +$3-6 per shirt |
| Pants & Trousers | 37% | $2.4B | +$5-10 per pair |
| Jackets & Outerwear | 37% | $1.8B | +$8-15 per jacket |
| Footwear | 37% | $1.2B | +$5-12 per pair |
| Jute & Jute Products | 37% | $420M | +20-30% per product |
| Frozen Shrimp | 37% | $380M | +$3-5 per pound |
📅 Tariff Timeline
🎯 Retaliation — US Products Targeted
| US Product Targeted | US Exports at Risk | Estimated Loss |
|---|---|---|
| No retaliation — Bangladesh lacks economic leverage | N/A | N/A |
💡 Did You Know?
- •Bangladesh is the world's #2 garment exporter — 1 in 5 T-shirts sold in America is made there
- •The garment industry employs 4 million Bangladeshi workers, 80% of whom are women
- •The 2013 Rana Plaza collapse killed 1,134 workers and transformed global garment safety standards
- •At 37%, Bangladesh faces a higher US tariff rate than China (30%) — despite being one of the world's poorest countries