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The government is waiting for formal notification from Washington before deciding its next move on the bilateral trade arrangement, amid fresh twists in US tariff policy.

Uncertainty deepened after the US court struck down the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff framework, only for President Donald Trump to announce a flat 15 per cent duty for trading partners.

Commerce Secretary Md Mahbubur Rahman said Bangladesh has yet to receive any official communication reflecting the latest changes.

“The new tariff would be set at 15 per cent for all trading partners following the US court verdict, but we have not received any official notification yet,” he said.

He noted that the 20 per cent tariff imposed in August remains in force, while the proposed 19 per cent rate under the new agreement has not come into effect. Dhaka expects formal clarification in the coming days and will continue engagement with US authorities.

Scope to revisit deal?

Trade analysts believe the court verdict may open room for renegotiation.

Professor Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, said the flat 15 per cent tariff would apply uniformly, meaning Bangladesh would neither gain special preference nor face additional disadvantage compared to others.

The earlier agreement had reduced the tariff to 19 per cent from 37 per cent under the reciprocal framework.

“With the reciprocal tariff framework nullified, the relevance of the agreement no longer exists,” he said, suggesting fresh discussions as the deal has yet to take effect.

He added that the interim government should not have rushed into signing the agreement ahead of the national election, noting that trade deals typically allow a 60-day window between enforcement and exchange of formal notifications.

“A number of clauses appear one-sided. Bangladesh must respond with strategic caution and careful calculation in the face of shifting US trade policy,” he said.

Industry voices concern

Shovon Islam, managing director of Sparrow Group, said all countries are now subject to the same 15 per cent rate and expressed hope that Bangladesh could renegotiate for a more favourable outcome to strengthen export competitiveness.

Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, criticised the timing of the deal signed by the interim administration just days before the election.

“The ill-timed move has created uncertainty. Had the deal not been signed, we might have had greater room. Instead, we are now facing uncertainty,” he said.

He argued that trade agreements should be structured around HS codes to ensure clarity and secure customs benefits, warning that reciprocal tariff arrangements carry inherent risks.

Legal and parliamentary questions

Dr Abdur Razzaque, chairman of RAPID, said such agreements should be ratified by parliament and questioned whether the reciprocal tariff component would receive approval from the US Congress.

Asked whether Bangladesh could ignore the deal if the reciprocal framework collapses, he said it would depend on legal interpretation.

“None of the weaker countries have been able to do so, as even the European Union has not taken such a step,” he said, cautioning that Dhaka must tread carefully to avoid diplomatic or trade pressure.

He also noted that while the US Supreme Court ruled the president lacks authority to impose tariffs unilaterally, the decision allows existing tariffs to remain for up to 150 days.

For now, Bangladesh is holding its position — awaiting formal US notification before recalibrating its trade strategy.