Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said on Wednesday that the recent trade agreement between Bangladesh and the United States is a state-level deal. He described the US tariff issue as an evolving situation being closely monitored by the government.
He stressed that the deal should not be viewed as “wholesale negative or wholesale positive”.
The minister made the remarks after US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S Paul Kapur met him at his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday. State Minister for Commerce Md Shariful Alam, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen were also present.
No Agreement Is Final
Rejecting concerns that the agreement is final and irreversible, Muktadir said no deal is “end-of-life". Most agreements contain self-correcting or review clauses.
“If at any point any provision appears to require addition, removal or modification, there is always scope for further negotiation", he said, urging stakeholders not to be overly anxious.
US Remains Key Trading Partner
The minister emphasised that the United States remains Bangladesh’s largest single-country trading partner. Bilateral discussions covered a wide range of issues, including trade, investment and cooperation in developing Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure.
Referring to the reciprocal trade agreement signed on 9 February, he said no separate discussion was held on the signing itself during the latest meeting, as the agreement had already been concluded between the two governments.
Tariff Issues Remain “Evolving”
Responding to queries about US tariff measures, Muktadir said the matter relates to a provision under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, through which tariffs were imposed.
After a higher US court ruled that the provision did not justify the tariffs, the situation became “evolving”.
“We are observing the evolving situation,” he said, clarifying that his earlier remarks were limited to this legal development in the United States.
Bilateral Trade Is a two-way street.
Addressing criticism that the agreement may not have adequately protected Bangladesh’s interests, Muktadir said any bilateral trade deal involves demands and concessions from both sides.
“In any agreement, some clauses may be more favourable to one side, while others benefit the other side. Both parties negotiate to reach a win-win situation,” he said.
He added that the agreement contains many provisions that could strengthen bilateral trade relations in the coming days.
Government Monitoring and Stakeholder Input
The minister emphasised that the agreement is a state deal and that no specific adverse elements have been identified so far.
“If anyone finds any problematic aspects, they may raise them with us. We are also reviewing the matter,” he said.
On concerns raised by business leaders about visa bond requirements, Muktadir said the issue falls under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
However, he stressed that Bangladesh consistently requests that businesspeople and investors from both countries be able to travel easily and without obstacles.
“We always urge that our businesspeople and investors, as well as theirs, can move comfortably between the two countries without barriers,” he said.
US Cooperation and Investment Opportunities
The minister said US representatives expressed willingness to continue working with the new government and expand cooperation.
They highlighted non-tariff barriers and other obstacles which, if removed, could make Bangladesh more attractive for American investment.
Addressing these issues could help Bangladesh become eligible for US development finance facilities and create a more conducive environment for increased US investment.
“The United States remains a major commercial partner. There are many important issues between our two countries, including trade, investment and digital infrastructure development. We are working to further strengthen these ties,” Muktadir added.
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