Fashion
EU, US set up framework for balanced trans-Atlantic trade, investment
This builds on the political agreement reached by European Commission President von der Leyen and President Donald Trump on July 27.
The EU and the US today set up a framework for fair, balanced and mutually-beneficial trade and investment.
A joint statement lays out the new US tariff regime towards the EU, with a clear maximum 15-per cent tariff rate for the vast majority of EU exports; sectors already subject to MFN tariffs of 15 per cent or above will be exempt.
The EU will also engage in negotiating a trade agreement with the US.
The joint statement lays out in detail the new US tariff regime towards the EU, with a clear maximum, all-inclusive tariff rate of 15 per cent for the vast majority of EU exports, including strategic sectors. Sectors which are already subject to most favoured nation (MFN) tariffs of 15 per cent or above will not be subject to additional tariffs.
With regard to cars and car parts, the 15-per cent US tariff ceiling will apply in tandem with the EU initiating the procedures for tariff reductions vis-à-vis US products.
Effective as of September 1, a number of product groups will benefit from a special regime, with only MFN tariffs applying. These include unavailable natural resources (such as cork), all aircraft and aircraft parts, generic pharmaceuticals and their ingredients and chemical precursors.
Both sides have agreed to continue to ambitiously work to extend this regime to other product categories as well—a key deliverable for the EU.
The EU will also engage in negotiating an agreement on fair, balanced and mutually beneficial trade with the United States.
EU-US trade in goods and services has doubled over the last decade, surpassing €1.6 trillion ($1.86 trillion) in 2024, with €867 billion (~$1 trillion) of trade in goods and €817 billion of trade in services.
The EU intends to eliminate tariffs on all US industrial goods and provide preferential market access for a wide range of US seafood and agricultural goods.
Both sides committed to cooperate on ensuring secure, reliable and diversified energy supplies, including by addressing non-tariff barriers that might restrict bilateral energy trade. As part of this effort, the EU intends to procure US liquified natural gas, oil and nuclear energy products with an expected offtake valued at $750 billion till 2028.
In addition, the EU intends to purchase at least $40 billion worth of US artificial intelligence (AI) chips for its computing centres.
The EU further plans to work with the United States to adopt and maintain technology security requirements in line with those of the United States.
European companies are expected to invest an additional $600 billion across strategic sectors in the United States till 2028.
The EU plans to consult with the United States and US traders on digitalisation of trade procedures and implementation of the legislation currently proposed on EU Customs Reform.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
They said bank audit procedures have stalled numerous applications. Around Tk 57 billion in incentives for the textile and apparel sector remain unsettled in fiscal 2025-26, creating acute liquidity pressure and affecting exports.
Bangladesh trade body BGMEA representatives recently met Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and urged him to release pending cash incentives without waiting for quarterly release schedules and simplify the disbursement process.
They said bank audit procedures have stalled numerous applications.
They also raised concerns over loan rescheduling and working capital.
The authorities were requested to disburse incentives upon application submission instead of waiting for quarterly release schedules, according to a release from the trade body.
BGMEA vice president Mohammad Shihab Uddoja Chowdhury raised concerns over loan rescheduling and working capital. He said banks often reschedule loans to maintain non-performing loan ratios, but fail to provide the working capital factories need to resume operations.
He proposed that banks pair rescheduling with working capital support to create a win-win outcome, allowing factories to operate and repay loans. The finance minister agreed with the proposal.
BGMEA leaders also called for business facilitation and lower operational costs to help Bangladesh remain competitive in the global market. They sought policy support to remove obstacles in customs, ports and other administrative layers and to ensure an investment-friendly environment.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Bangladesh think tank Centre for Policy Dialogue has called for major reforms in business environment, tax collection, trade deals and FDI management, cautioning that the country’s post-election economic transition may be at risk without evidence-based decisions and strong accountability.
A CPD study identified ‘leaking revenue’ as the weakest area across all decision-making indicators.
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The downward movement remained closely tied to crude oil dynamics, which continue to shape industrial cost structures across energy-intensive sectors. Average North Sea Brent crude prices stood at nearly €55 per barrel in January 2026, representing a drop of more than 27 per cent from a year earlier. In comparison, December prices averaged €52.5 per barrel, marking an annual decline of almost 25 per cent, CBS said in a press release.
Dutch manufacturing output prices fell 1.9 per cent YoY in January 2026, extending December’s decline as lower crude oil costs weighed on industrial pricing.
Brent prices dropped over 27 per cent annually, pulling petroleum derivative prices down 15.8 per cent.
However, producer prices rose 0.9 per cent MoM, supported by export and domestic market gains.
Petroleum-derived products registered a sharper contraction in line with weaker crude benchmarks. Prices for petroleum derivatives fell 15.8 per cent YoY in January, following a 12 per cent decrease in December, underscoring persistent softness in refined energy product pricing.
Despite the annual decline, producer prices showed sequential improvement at the start of the year. Overall manufacturing output prices increased 0.9 per cent in January from the previous month, indicating short-term pricing stabilisation across industrial segments.
The monthly uptick was led by export markets, where prices rose 1.2 per cent, while domestic market prices increased 0.6 per cent. The divergence between YoY declines and MoM gains highlights the continued influence of last year’s elevated energy base alongside emerging signs of near-term price recovery.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
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Bangladesh’s BGMEA seeks policy reforms, release of pending incentives
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