Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir on Tuesday urged people not to be alarmed over the trade agreement with the United States, saying such deals cannot be cancelled at will.
He made the remarks after a meeting with a US delegation at the Secretariat.
The minister said the existing agreement with the United States cannot be scrapped arbitrarily.
“This agreement has been inherited,” he said, adding that the government’s priority is to safeguard national interests.
Muktadir said, “The agreement itself allows scope for review if any provision goes against Bangladesh’s interests.”
“There is no need for unnecessary concern over the trade deal with the United States,” he added.
Earlier, on 9 February, Dhaka and Washington signed a reciprocal tariff agreement to reduce the impact of additional duties imposed by US President Donald Trump.
On behalf of Bangladesh, former commerce adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and former national security adviser Khalilur Rahman signed the agreement.
US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer signed on behalf of the United States. Former commerce secretary Mahbubur Rahman and Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch were also present.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday after another meeting at the Ministry of Commerce with Brendan Lynch, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said state-level agreements cannot be treated like personal contracts.
“Agreements between states cannot be cancelled at will,” he said, reiterating that such deals are part of state continuity and must be handled accordingly.
“Any international agreement is built on coordination between two sides. It reflects the interests of both parties and creates a win-win situation,” he added.
Muktadir also that the current government did not initiate the agreement but inherited it as part of state continuity. “We want to utilise it to expand trade and investment,” he said.
The minister also mentioned “The United States has recently initiated an investigation. Bangladesh sought clarification and responded with its observations.”
“We have clearly stated that it would have been more positive if such an investigation had not been initiated under the existing agreement,” he added.
