China has vowed to “fight till the end” in its trade war with the United States after President Donald Trump announced a new 100% tariff on Chinese imports. The statement, released by China’s Ministry of Commerce on October 14, came in response to Trump’s recent social media post threatening broader export controls on critical software starting November 1. The tensions were further inflamed after China limited exports of rare earth minerals. The trade escalation has shaken global markets and cast uncertainty over a possible meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean officials. Beijing reiterated that it remains open to dialogue but warned Washington against combining talks with threats. Despite the disputes, China’s exports grew by 8.3% in September, with shipments to the U.S. rising to $34.3 billion. The tariff conflict continues to dominate discussions at the IMF and World Bank meetings.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the visiting US trade delegation to help reduce countervailing duties on Bangladeshi exports.
During the meeting, the US Trade Representative team stressed labor law reforms in line with international standards. BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said Bangladesh has already achieved 20% tariff benefits, but overall exports face an average duty of 16.5%, pushing the effective burden to 36.5%. He suggested using a “stacking method” to rationalize tariffs. On labor reforms, Khan said BGMEA is in dialogue with all stakeholders and has submitted concrete proposals on amending the 2006 Labor Act.

Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin has urged entrepreneurs to focus on functionality and aesthetics to expand jute products in both domestic and global markets. “You cannot go far by only producing flowers and fruits out of jute—functional items must be developed,” he said.
The government has already initiated the distribution of 30 million jute bags, with plans to scale up to 100 million, offering 30–40% subsidies to support marketing. He stressed that entrepreneurs must consider three factors when developing products: utility, design, and market access potential.

Bangladesh will export 1,200 tons of hilsa fish to India ahead of this year’s Durga Puja festival, the Ministry of Commerce has announced.

Interested exporters must apply by September 11 with hard copies of updated trade licenses, export registration certificates, tax and VAT documents, and sales agreements. The government has set a minimum export price of $12.50 per kilogram.

Notably, Bangladesh had permitted 2,420 tons of hilsa exports for Durga Puja last year—double this year’s quota. The ministry clarified that permits cannot be transferred or exceeded and warned that the government may suspend exports at any time.

The government is determined to curb tax evasion while boosting efficiency among businesses, said Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin on Monday during the 9th NTFC meeting.

“To facilitate trade, unnecessary regulations and restrictive controls will be reviewed,” he announced. “We want to ensure fairness and create a level playing field, which will increase trade volume and strengthen our economic capacity.”

He further emphasized: “We need an efficient trade regime that will drive significant progress in our national economy and serve as a strong platform for equitable distribution of resources.”

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman announced that the Bangladeshi government has placed an order for 25 advanced aircraft from US-based Boeing.

He clarified, “Boeing is a private company, not run by the US government. Just as India, Vietnam, and Indonesia have each ordered 100 aircraft, we’ve ordered 25.” However, if a trade agreement is not signed soon, higher US tariffs on Bangladeshi exports will take effect from August 1.

Kyiv has accused Bangladeshi companies of importing grain harvested from Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine, urging the European Union to take appropriate measures. Ukraine’s ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, stated that the embassy had formally notified Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry, calling on Dhaka to reject over 150,000 tons of what he described as “stolen grain” shipped from the port of Kavkaz. He added that Bangladesh did not respond to the diplomatic note. “This is a crime,” Polishchuk said, “and Ukraine will now raise the issue with the EU.” However, a senior Bangladeshi Food Ministry official dismissed the allegation, saying, “Bangladesh does not import wheat produced in Russian-occupied regions. We never buy stolen grain.”

Eric Trump, son of Donald Trump and executive at the Trump Organization, has unveiled a new venture named Trump Mobile. The company will exclusively sell smartphones made in the United States. The first model, dubbed T1, is expected to hit the market in about two and a half months, but pre-orders are already underway. The project marks the Trump Organization's entry into competition with tech giants like Apple and Samsung.

President Donald Trump has announced that the long-anticipated trade agreement between Washington and Beijing has been finalized. The deal now awaits final approval from the heads of state of both nations.

According to Trump, under the new agreement, the United States will benefit from a total of 55% tariff concessions, while China will receive 10%. He further stated that China has committed to supplying the U.S. in advance with essential resources, including rare earth minerals and magnets.

In a post on social media, Trump wrote, “China will provide the United States with a full supply of magnets and critical rare minerals on a priority basis. In return, the U.S. will honor its promises to China, including allowing Chinese students access to American universities—something I’ve always supported!”

Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin has announced that leather prices in Bangladesh have reached their highest point in 12 years, with further increases expected next year. He highlighted the government’s efforts to revive the country’s traditional leather industry, while noting that spoiled hides due to improper preservation are the responsibility of individuals, not the government. “We’ve broken previous syndicates and provided salt in key areas to aid proper preservation,” he said. He also confirmed that border security has been strengthened to prevent leather smuggling.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin has assured that leather traders are receiving fair prices for sacrificial animal hides this Eid. He stated that the government has generously distributed 750,000 maunds of salt nationwide to help preserve the hides. Addressing allegations about rotten leather, he cautioned against spreading misinformation, noting that leather is inherently a perishable commodity. He further mentioned that the government has disbursed Tk 2.2 billion in incentives for tannery owners and temporarily lifted the ban on direct leather exports for three months. These steps, he said, will strengthen Bangladesh’s reputation in the global leather market.

Mango trading at Chapainawabganj’s second-largest market, located at Rahanpur Railway Station, has come to a standstill as farmers protested the wholesalers’ decision to impose new commission fees. Hundreds of mango-laden vans are now stranded along both sides of the Rahanpur-Bholahat regional road, causing significant traffic congestion. On Sunday, wholesalers reportedly held a meeting to enforce the commission policy, triggering the boycott by mango growers. The local administration has stated that efforts are underway to resolve the issue through discussions with both parties.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation on Thursday to address escalating trade tensions and tariff disputes. The call, initiated by Trump, follows recent accusations from Washington that Beijing violated a tariff-reduction agreement. China denies the claims and threatens retaliation. The call has sparked cautious optimism among investors. Though past efforts have faltered, both sides continue to navigate complex issues including Taiwan, fentanyl trade, and China's state-driven economy. Their last face-to-face meeting was in 2019.

A new consignment of buffalo has arrived at the Benapole land port, imported duty-free by the government from India to enhance livestock development.

On Tuesday afternoon, 95 buffaloes—55 adults and 40 calves—arrived in five trucks from Haryana, India. These animals were imported for breeding purposes at the Savar Livestock Research and Development Center. The declared import value is USD 109,950. The government has exempted these imports from customs duties.

The Consulate General of Bangladesh in Jeddah has met with representatives of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to strengthen bilateral trade and increase Saudi investment in Bangladesh. Consul General Miayamo Mainul Kabir highlighted significant growth in Bangladeshi exports and noted that the country, as the world’s second-largest garment exporter, has maintained its strong market position. He emphasized the potential for diversified exports such as leather goods, plastics, frozen fish, agro-processed foods, pharmaceuticals, jute products, tea, and halal meat.