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Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has urged against panicking over the ongoing trade agreement with the United States. He stated that this agreement was not newly formed; rather, it is an existing one inherited from the past, and cannot simply be cancelled at will.
He informed reporters of this after a meeting with the US delegation at the Secretariat on Tuesday (May 5).
The Minister said that the existing trade agreement with the United States cannot be cancelled simply by desire. However, if any clause of the agreement is detrimental to Bangladesh’s interests, there is an opportunity for reconsideration. He therefore urged the public not to be unnecessarily alarmed.
He added that the government’s primary objective is to ensure the protection of national interests. All discussions and diplomatic processes are ongoing to achieve this goal.
Previously, on February 9, a reciprocal tariff agreement was signed between Bangladesh and the United States to mitigate the impact of additional tariffs imposed by then-US President Donald Trump.
On behalf of Bangladesh, the agreement was signed by the then Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin and National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman. The US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamison Greer signed on behalf of the United States. High-level officials from both countries were also present at the time.
Meanwhile, on the same day, BNP leader Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, in a separate comment in the political arena, remarked that Bangladesh’s relationship with India would remain the same, regardless of which party is in power there.