Bangladesh could double or even triple its cotton imports from the US with the right policy support and strategic measures, according to Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
He made this comment while leading a high-powered meeting between BGMEA officials and American cotton exporters at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka on Tuesday.
The meeting was organised by Cotton USA, which works to facilitate US cotton exports worldwide. Khan said Bangladesh currently imports around 10 percent of its required cotton from the US.
He said this share could be significantly increased through stronger trade facilitation and logistical coordination.
Against this backdrop, Khan proposed joint research on the quality and advantages of US cotton and then sharing findings with local spinners to encourage wider use in the apparel industry.
He said the recently announced US tariff exemption for garments using at least 20 percent American raw materials has opened a new window of opportunity for Bangladesh’s apparel sector.
“The new tariff facility can make our products more competitive in the global market,” Khan said.
However, he noted that local spinners and manufacturers have yet to receive clear procedural guidance on how to avail the facility.
He urged the US delegation to help the BGMEA obtain a prompt clarification from the US administration so that exporters can prepare immediately to benefit from the scheme.
The US delegation comprised Li Yin of Ecom, Krista Rickman of Cargill, Diego Lozada of Louis Dreyfus Company, Wesley Rentz of Olam Agri, Wayne Boseman of Carolina Cotton Growers Association, Chris Jones of Staplcotn Cooperative, and Will Bettendorf and Ali Arsalan of Cotton Council International.
From BGMEA, Senior Vice President Enamul Haque Khan and Director Nafis-ud-Daula joined the discussion alongside the president.
The US representatives said some procedural delays and documentation issues still hinder cotton shipments to Bangladesh and sought BGMEA’s support to resolve them.
In response, the BGMEA president requested that the issues be submitted in writing so they could be raised with the Ministry of Commerce for quick action.
The representatives of Cotton Council International said Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry holds a critical position in global manufacturing, while American cotton is recognised worldwide for its sustainability, reliability and high quality.
They said using more US cotton could help Bangladeshi apparel exporters enhance product quality and take full advantage of the new US tariff benefit.
The meeting also discussed improving logistics and infrastructure to ensure smoother US cotton supply, including setting up a dedicated warehouse in Bangladesh to reduce import lead time.
Both sides agreed to work together to ensure transparency and traceability in verifying the use of American raw materials under the new tariff scheme.
BGMEA requested training and technical assistance from US cotton exporters to enhance productivity and reduce wastage in local factories through collaboration with the BGMEA Innovation Centre.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to deepening Bangladesh–US trade partnership and strengthening cooperation in the textile and apparel sectors.
