Bangladesh Set to Sign US Tariff Deal Days Before Polls

The interim government is set to sign a tariff agreement with the United States just three days before the 13th parliamentary election.

The national election and the referendum on the July National Charter are scheduled to be held simultaneously on 12 February, while the agreement is expected to be signed in Washington, DC, on 9 February.

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin will lead the Bangladeshi delegation for the signing ceremony.

Last August, Bangladesh and the United States reached a mutual understanding over the 20% reciprocal tariff imposed on Bangladeshi goods, though no formal deal was concluded at the time.

Speaking to journalists at the secretariat on Sunday, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said the government had received the signing schedule from the US and had already sent a summary seeking the draft agreement and approval to proceed.

Asked about the likely tariff rate under the agreement, he said the current rate stands at 20%, adding that a reduction is expected but cannot be confirmed before the signing date.