Dhaka, July 8 -- Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday said that the 35 per cent reciprocal tariff imposed by the US administration is not justified as the trade gap between the two countries is not big.

"It is true that our trade deficit is only $5.0 billion while Vietnam has a deficit of $125 billion. The U.S. has agreed to give them a big concession. Our deficit is small. There is no justification to slap a high duty on us," the adviser said.

He was briefing newsmen after a meeting of the Advisers' Council Committee on government purchase at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Mr Ahmed, however, said the rate announced by Donald Trump is not the final one and has scope to renegotiate, which will be held on Wednesday morning.

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