B Mirror Report: Three days prior to the 13th National Parliamentary elections on February 12, the interim administration of Bangladesh is planned to sign a tariff agreement with the United States on February 9. A prior non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the United States has kept the deal’s draft confidential, raising concerns about its timing and content.

Once signed, the responsibility for implementing the agreement will fall on the newly elected government. Business leaders and trade analysts have raised concerns about the lack of transparency, potential economic impacts, and the implications for domestic industries.

Inamul Haque Khan, Senior Vice President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told Media, “Those who could be adversely affected by the agreement are currently in the dark. The draft needs discussion, and it would have been better to sign it after the election.” Taskeen Ahmed, President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce, echoed this sentiment, saying the elected government should have been responsible for negotiating such a deal.

The U.S.-Bangladesh tariff discussions began in April 2025, when then-U.S. President Donald Trump announced retaliatory tariffs on Bangladesh at 37 percent, later revised to 35 percent. Negotiations continued, and by August 2025, the retaliatory tariff rate was set at 20 percent. Over the past six months, both countries have been preparing the final agreement, which includes provisions on tariffs, non-tariff barriers, digital trade, technology, rules of origin, national security, and other trade conditions.

Bangladesh enjoys a favorable trade position with the U.S., exporting around $6 billion and importing $2 billion annually. The agreement aims to lower U.S. tariffs, potentially benefiting Bangladesh’s exports, but it also comes with conditions that may affect local industries, imports from China, and access for U.S. vehicles and products.

Analysts point out that it is rare for a caretaker government to sign such an agreement just days before an election. Debapriya Bhattacharya of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) noted that the deal carries long-term geopolitical and economic significance and that signing it now limits the incoming government’s ability to debate or negotiate its terms.

The interim government has also recently signed long-term port contracts, including a 33-year deal with Denmark’s APM Terminal and a 22-year agreement with Switzerland’s Medlog SA, highlighting a pattern of significant decisions in its final months.

Experts suggest the U.S. tariff deal should ideally have been postponed until after the elections, allowing the elected government to take responsibility and ensure a more transparent process.