Dhaka, April 29 -- The United States-Bangladesh Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART) is not a list of demands from Washington but a shared commitment to the future of both countries, US Ambassador Brent Christensen has said.

Speaking at a high-level luncheon and policy dialogue organised by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Dhaka on Tuesday, the ambassador defended the trade framework amid ongoing debate over its terms.

"The ART is not a list of demands from the United States. It is a shared commitment to Bangladesh's future," he said, adding that the agreement should be seen as a foundation for expanding economic partnership.

According to Christensen, the agreement, if fully implemented, will help deepen trade ties and unlock B...