, July 11 -- Bangladesh and the United States discussed issues of mutual interest with particular focus on trade, commerce, and the ongoing tariff negotiations, specifically the steep rise in rates announced by President Donald Trump, during Thursday's much-anticipated meeting between the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and a delegation from Dhaka led by Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin.

Despite platitudes on offer from the CA's Press Wing, the most important takeaway following Thursday's meeting is that there was no breakthrough in negotiations over the 35% tariff on Bangladeshi goods announced by Trump, that will be effective from Aug. 1. Nor is there any indication of a breakthrough being imminent.

In the e...