A trade agreement signed between Bangladesh and the United States on February 9, just days before a national election, has drawn sharp criticism from economists and policy observers.

Bangladesh is scheduled to sign a trade agreement with the United States on Monday aimed at reducing reciprocal tariffs, with commitments to import more American goods to narrow a trade imbalance heavily favouring Bangladesh.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR), the US government’s chief trade negotiation body, wants to see Bangladesh’s work plan on narrowing the bilateral trade gap before the Trump administration makes a call on reciprocal tariffs.