A weak government successfully negotiating a complex issue like the US-imposed countervailing duties is a rare phenomenon in international trade history, said Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

Speaking at a roundtable discussion titled “US Counter-Tariffs: Which Way for Bangladesh?” held at a Dhaka hotel on Sunday, July 20, Debapriya criticised the current interim government’s approach to the ongoing tariff talks with the United States.

He described the government as “uncoordinated” and lacking political legitimacy , which has made it difficult to make effective decisions in high-stakes negotiations. He emphasized that in such a situation, the government should have relied heavily on experts and stakeholders to bridge the knowledge and strategy gap – but that did not happen.

“This is a government that I can only describe as innocent, blameless, and naïve,” he remarked.

“We understand the complexity of these negotiations while sitting here. But they don’t seem to. That’s why I say I’ve never seen a government quite like this before.”

Debapriya noted that the current administration appears to be moving forward with a passive and overly optimistic mindset , which has placed Bangladesh in a “muddy situation” in the ongoing tariff discussions.

Highlighting the contrast between past and present governance, Bhattacharya shared his experience of working with previous administrations: “In the past, even if the government didn’t know much, they would listen to experts and allow us to suggest solutions. Now, the attitude is different. They say, ‘We already know everything. You don’t need to worry.’”

He stressed that the US tariff issue is not just economic, but also involves political and geopolitical dimensions. He warned that ignoring the service sector, which supports export industries like RMG and pharmaceuticals, was a major oversight in the negotiations.

Debapriya also criticised the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) signed during the talks, arguing that instead of secrecy, the government should have published a norm paper or policy position document to clarify its stance and build public confidence.

“We should not be afraid to be transparent. A policy paper would have helped domestic stakeholders understand the government’s position and prepare accordingly,” he said.

He added that Trump’s tariff policy is based on flawed economic reasoning and predicted that the US will eventually have to roll back the duties due to economic pressures at home – including potential inflation, slowing growth, and rising unemployment.

“I can tell you firmly that this counter-tariff issue won’t last. It’s unscientific. But before we reach that point, we must make strategic decisions that protect our jobs and investments.”

CPD Honorary Fellow Mostafizur Rahman echoed similar concerns, noting that the government entered the negotiations with an overconfident mind-set, expecting to reduce the 35% tariff to 10% or even zero.

“The government thought it could resolve this through talks alone. That optimism has cost us dearly,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of understanding how competing countries are positioning themselves in the global market and called for a more strategic and coordinated approach.

“There are non-tariff barriers and geopolitical factors at play. We must consider our sovereignty, our bilateral relationships, and our long-term interests,” Mostafizur added.

While the government has managed to keep the negotiations going, the lack of coordination, transparency, and expert consultation raises concerns about Bangladesh’s long-term trade strategy .

As the country prepares for a third round of talks with the US, analysts urge the interim government to adopt a more inclusive and strategic approach —one that considers not just tariffs, but also broader economic and geopolitical realities.