Republican candidate Donald Trump has won the U.S. presidential election for the second time. During his election campaign, he discussed various important issues including the economy, immigration, and the Russia-Ukraine war, as he aimed to return to the White House. In this context, analysts speculate that the Trump administration will place a particular emphasis on the economic aspects of bilateral relations. The United States is the largest export destination for Bangladesh’s ready-made garments, and the two countries have constructive economic relations in many areas. Therefore, the U.S. is as important for Bangladesh’s economy as Bangladesh is for the United States. Additionally, Bangladesh is globally recognized for exporting low-cost goods. Overall, it is anticipated that the economic and commercial relationship between Bangladesh and the U.S. will strengthen further.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), from January to August of this year, the overall U.S. apparel imports have declined by 4 percent, with Bangladesh’s exports decreasing by 9.17 percent, amounting to 4.7 billion dollars, down from 5.18 billion dollars during the same period last year. In the fiscal year 2021-22, Bangladesh’s exports to the U.S. reached 10 billion dollars. According to the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. is Bangladesh’s largest export market, and the two countries have signed bilateral investment agreements and treaties to avoid double taxation. In 2017, U.S. direct investment in Bangladesh was 460 million dollars, which was an increase of 0.4 percent from 2016. On September 13, 2018, the fourth annual Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) meeting in Washington D.C. highlighted the potential for greater cooperation between Bangladesh and the U.S.

Analysts believe that since Trump is a businessman, he will focus on business-related issues. If his tariff plans on Chinese goods are implemented, many U.S. retailers may look to relocate apparel sourcing to countries like Bangladesh. Former Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, stated, "I don't think Trump's arrival will have any significant impact on relations with Bangladesh, as the relationship between the U.S. and Bangladesh is largely based on economic interests. Trump is more focused on economic growth in his election, so he is unlikely to neglect Bangladesh."

Once considered a small, impoverished country surrounded by India, Bangladesh has gained global recognition in recent years due to its geopolitical, economic, and overall development. The geopolitical significance of the Bay of Bengal, connectivity with Southeast Asia, and improved relations with India have made Bangladesh an emerging power in the Indo-Pacific region, attracting the attention of powerful nations around the world.

Regarding this, Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, the head of Bangladesh's Election Commission Reform Committee, commented, "The United States is currently in crisis, and its internal divisions have become severe. For us, this is a lesson, as our democratic system could also become unstable and lead to crisis if we are not responsible." He further stated, "Donald Trump has raised the issue of Bangladesh to win the votes of Indians. However, I don’t think this will have any adverse effect because Trump probably doesn’t even know where Bangladesh is."