ISLAMABAD: The government plans to buy 14 Boeing airplanes for Biman Bangladesh Airlines as part of efforts to reduce the trade deficit with the United States, Bangladeshi media reported.

Commerce and Civil Aviation Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said a techno-financial analysis comparing proposals from Airbus and Boeing has been completed, and negotiations with Boeing are ongoing. The aircraft deal, valued at Tk 30,000 crore to Tk 35,000 crore (approximately $2.7 billion to $3.2 billion), will be paid over a long-term period of up to 20 years, according to The Daily Star.

The proposed purchase includes eight Boeing 787-10s, two 787-9s, and four 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Meanwhile, a senior commerce ministry official told The Daily Star that the United States may reduce its reciprocal tariff on Bangladeshi exports to 18% from the current 20% after a trade agreement is signed. The agreement is expected to be signed today after negotiations between Dhaka and Washington.

Bangladesh has pledged to increase imports of US goods and reduce the bilateral trade imbalance. In return, the US has agreed not to impose tariffs on garments made from American raw materials, such as cotton.

Adviser Bashir Uddin expressed optimism that continued negotiations could further ease tariff barriers, particularly for the country’s main export item, garments, aiming for zero-duty access in the long run.

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Bangladesh plans to buy 14 Boeing aircraft as part of US trade deal: Report