Deal details will be disclosed only with US approval, says Commerce Adviser

Commerce Adviser: Trade Deal Info to Be Disclosed After Signing, Subject to US Consent

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin has stated that details of the trade agreement under negotiation with the United States will be made public only after the agreement is signed and with the consent of the US.

“Under the Right to Information Act and with US approval, we will certainly make the agreement public,” he said, adding that a joint statement will be issued once the deal is finalised.

He expressed disappointment over the recent leak regarding the agreement. “You’ve seen it yourselves—there’s nothing in the deal that goes against the country’s interest,” he remarked.

The Adviser made the comments in a conversation with Golam Mortoza, Minister (Press) at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington. Mortoza later shared the remarks on his verified Facebook page.

According to Bashir, the government has consciously avoided provisions that could indirectly harm the country's interests, particularly those concerning the private sector.

He underscored the need for Bangladesh to enhance its capacity in order to fully benefit from the agreement. “There is no alternative to strengthening our competitiveness. We cannot afford to be complacent in any situation,” he said. “The success or failure of this agreement will depend entirely on our ability and competitiveness.”

Responding to a question about the potential purchase of 25 Boeing aircraft from the US, the Adviser clarified that the issue was not discussed during the trade negotiations. “This matter is one-sided. Boeing produced just 12 aircraft last year. So based on that, delivery of the first plane under such an agreement might happen by 2037.”

He noted that the US showed more interest in agricultural products during the talks. Bangladesh currently imports food products worth $15–20 billion annually, and the US, being a major agricultural producer, sees potential in that market.

The discussions primarily focused on reducing the trade deficit through imports of energy and agricultural goods—products Bangladesh already needs. Bashir noted that the trade deficit with the US stands at around $6 billion, and proposed narrowing it by $2 billion through increased imports of cotton, soybean, corn, and wheat.

“This would be a much more practical way to address the trade imbalance,” he said. “Boeing aircraft are not a pressing issue—you don’t buy planes every day, but soybean is bought daily.”

The Adviser also stressed the importance of enhancing Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ operational capacity, saying the interim government is working on it. He pointed out that Biman has the potential to carry 10 million additional passengers, so acquiring 25 aircraft is not excessive.

He dismissed speculation about any secret deal linked to the US decision to reduce tariffs on Bangladeshi goods—from 35% to 20%—emphasising that all discussions were guided by national interest.

“There has been no compromise on our interests. Everything we did was for Bangladesh—just as the US protects its national security,” he stated.

Bashir also noted that a delegation of Bangladeshi business leaders is currently in the US. “They are fully aware of their responsibilities and will act in line with the country’s interests,” he concluded.