Pakistan, April 17 -- Bangladesh found a breathing space after U.S. President Donald Trump had granted a 90-day exemption from the recently imposed 37% tariff on Bangladeshi exports to the United States, as part of a broader initiative temporarily easing trade restrictions for multiple countries. This brings to the fore a longstanding challenge that Bangladesh can no longer afford to sideline-political trade dependence.

Although markets in different nations have seen disruption due to this decision by the Trump administration's trade policy, Bangladesh's vulnerability has been laid bare. While this offers Bangladesh some breathing space, it also urges the country to swiftly reduce its trade deficit with the USA as a temporary measure. Ul...