Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has pushed back against warnings from German Ambassador Rüdiger Lotz, insisting that Bangladesh’s decision to step away from a pledged Airbus purchase will not jeopardise its trade ties with Europe.

Hours after Lotz suggested that abandoning the Airbus commitment could influence trade on Wednesday, Touhid said he does not think the relationship depends on a commercial deal.

Describing the efforts of diplomats to promote their national products abroad as “natural”, the advisor said: “Countries will naturally try to ensure their brands are sold in Bangladesh. That is their responsibility and I believe the ambassador has fulfilled his duty.

“But I absolutely do not think that any commercial matter -- where our experts evaluate what benefits us, given our fleet size and circumstances -- will be decided based on what an ambassador or others might say beyond our experts’ recommendations.”

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At the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) Talk earlier on Wednesday, Lotz hinted that the Airbus decision could impact the European Union’s decision on allowing Bangladesh to maintain its Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status for trade.

“The Airbus question -- whether it will have implications on our trade relations -- of course it would. Of course it would,” Lotz said.

“As I said, we are Bangladesh’s most important trading partner. We have a feeling that we have been treated in such a way that we can conduct bilateral relations. I think there needs to be a trust factor in trade relations.

Airbus, the France-based manufacturer, has been attempting to sell aircraft to state-flagged Biman Bangladesh Airlines since the tenure of the ousted Awami League government.

In September 2023, during a visit to Dhaka, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina had committed to purchasing 10 large aircraft -- eight passenger and two cargo planes.

As the Airbus deal came under review, US manufacturer Boeing also engaged in talks. Following the July Uprising and the fall of Hasina’s government, the country’s trade landscape shifted further.

With the imposition of 35 percent US tariffs under President Donald Trump, Bangladesh’s interim government announced in July a plan to purchase 25 aircraft from Boeing, creating renewed uncertainty over Airbus commitments. European pressure to proceed with Airbus sales intensified.

In June, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus met Airbus Executive Vice President Wouter van Wersch in the UK, and since then company representatives have maintained continuous engagement with senior officials. Final aircraft procurement decisions, however, depend on airline requirements, and the ultimate purchaser remains undisclosed.

At the start of this month, ambassadors from the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union collectively urged that Airbus be “rationally” considered in aircraft discussions, citing billions of euros in potential market access, the country’s graduation from LDC status, duty-free UK entry, and the long-term benefits of partnership.

Ambassador Lotz acknowledged that Bangladesh’s decision would have consequences, saying: “In personal or business life, any decision carries outcomes. If you ask me whether it will have an impact? Yes, it will.”

When asked whether the government feels pressured by Airbus, Advisor Touhid said: “I do not feel any pressure. Ask the purchaser who will ultimately make the decision.”

Backtracking on Airbus purchases will impact Bangladesh’s trade relations with Europe, says German ambassador