Bangladesh and United States Signed Trade Pact
The agreement, signed on February 9, aims to narrow a nearly $6 billion trade gap through increased imports and regulatory alignment.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in International Trade
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Bangladesh and the United States signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade on February 9 to strengthen bilateral commerce. The deal seeks to bridge a nearly $6 billion trade deficit by boosting US imports of energy and agricultural goods.
Why it matters
The pact aims to rebalance trade flows by increasing Bangladesh's reliance on US goods while establishing a framework to prevent future deals with non-market countries that could undermine the agreement.
Bangladesh recorded FY25 imports of $18.19 billion from China and $9.62 billion from India. The country has also committed to purchasing $15 billion in US liquefied natural gas over 15 years and 7 lakh tonnes of US wheat annually through 2030.
The players
Biman Bangladesh Airlines
This is the national flag carrier of Bangladesh which has significantly expanded its fleet through recent Boeing aircraft acquisitions.
US-Bangla Airlines
This is a prominent private airline based in Bangladesh that recently announced plans to grow its fleet with 21 new Boeing aircraft.
The details
Under the terms, Bangladesh agreed to accept US regulatory approvals for medicine, medical devices, and food products without requiring separate testing. Additionally, the deal prohibits Bangladesh from entering into new preferential economic agreements with non-market nations that could conflict with these commitments.
Timeline
February 9: The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade was officially signed.
April 2026: Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed a deal for 14 Boeing aircraft.
July 2026: US-Bangla Airlines announced an agreement to acquire 21 Boeing aircraft.
FY 2024-2025: Period used for tracking national import and export data.
Through 2030: Duration of the committed US wheat purchase program.
Market Landscape
The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade establishes a new regulatory framework that limits future trade partnerships with non-market economies. This shift forces a realignment of national sourcing strategies that historically favored major regional powers like China and India.
Average consumers may see increased availability of US-manufactured medical devices and food products as regulatory barriers are removed. However, the requirement to prioritize US energy imports may influence domestic energy costs and procurement choices over the next 15 years.
The takeaway
This agreement signals a significant pivot in regional trade policy by tethering long-term infrastructure and food security to US markets. Nations seeking to stabilize trade deficits may look to this regulatory-alignment model as a primary tool for securing deeper economic integration.
Further reading
Explore deeper insights into global commercial relationships on our International Trade page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Star.
Live Poll
Will increasing U.S. imports help Bangladesh diversify its trade dependencies by 2030?
