The US tariff situation remains under close review by the Bangladesh government as legal and policy developments continue in Washington, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said on Wednesday, describing the issue as an evolving trade environment.
Khandaker Abdul Muktadir made the remarks after a meeting with United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S Paul Kapur at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka. State Minister for Commerce Md Shariful Alam, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman and United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen were also present.
The commerce minister said the recently signed reciprocal trade agreement between Bangladesh and the United States should be viewed as a state-level arrangement between two governments and should not be interpreted as wholly negative or wholly positive.
He emphasised that most international trade agreements include review mechanisms that allow future revisions. “No agreement is end of life. If at any point any provision requires addition, removal or modification, there is always scope for further negotiation,” Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said.
The minister urged businesses and stakeholders not to be overly concerned, noting that trade arrangements often evolve as economic and legal conditions change.
Bangladesh and the United States signed the reciprocal trade agreement on 9 February as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral economic engagement. According to the commerce minister, the latest meeting did not involve new discussions about the signing itself because the agreement had already been finalised by the two governments.
Addressing questions about recent tariff measures, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said the issue stems from provisions under the United States International Emergency Economic Powers Act. He noted that a higher US court has since ruled that the specific legal provision did not justify the tariffs, creating an uncertain policy situation.
“We are observing the evolving situation,” the commerce minister said, explaining that Bangladesh is monitoring developments in the United States legal system that could influence trade policies.
The minister also highlighted the importance of the United States as Bangladesh’s largest single-country trading partner. Discussions between the two sides covered trade, investment cooperation and the development of Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure.
Responding to criticism that the agreement might not fully protect Bangladesh’s interests, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said bilateral trade negotiations inevitably involve compromises from both sides.
“In any agreement, some clauses may benefit one side more, while others favour the other side. Both parties negotiate to reach a mutually beneficial outcome,” he said.
He added that the agreement includes provisions that could strengthen Bangladesh–United States trade relations and expand economic cooperation in the coming years.
The commerce minister also addressed concerns raised by business leaders about visa bond requirements for travel to the United States. He clarified that visa policy issues fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but noted that Bangladesh consistently encourages smoother mobility for business leaders and investors from both countries.
According to the minister, US representatives expressed interest in continuing cooperation with Bangladesh’s new government and expanding engagement in investment and development initiatives. They also raised concerns about certain non-tariff barriers that, if addressed, could make Bangladesh more attractive for American investment.
Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said resolving such barriers could improve Bangladesh’s eligibility for US development finance facilities and create a stronger environment for bilateral investment flows.
“The United States remains a major commercial partner. There are many important areas of cooperation between our two countries, including trade, investment and digital infrastructure development. We are working to further strengthen these ties,” he added.
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