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Bangladesh

While Bangladesh may not appear to be a major player on the bilateral FTA front, it is currently under many pressures and involved in various discussions:

 The government was dealt harsh arrangements from the EU in the two parties’ trade and development cooperation agreement of 2001, through which Dhaka accepted WTO-plus demands from the EU, for instance to allow corporate monopoly rights over seeds (patenting);
 The government was in controversial talks with the US over a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, a preliminary to a possible FTA with Washington; but decided not to sign one in 2010 after several years of discussions. The US subsequently asked Bangladesh to sign a Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum deal, but this has not yet been signed;
  India has been pushing for a bilateral FTA with Bangladesh, but the World Bank has made clear that India would benefit more;
 Pakistan has been pushing for an FTA with Bangladesh as well;
 Bangladesh, for its part, is interested in developing an FTA with China.

Apart from all these, the government is either negotiating or considering negotiating FTAs with Iran, Turkey, Bhutan, Malaysia, Morocco and Sri Lanka.

On a regional level, Bangladesh is a member of SAARC, which has its own FTA, as well as BIMSTEC, which also aims to develop one.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Solidarity Center/CC BY-ND 2.0


CEPA may pose risks for domestic industry, jobs
Signing the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India may pose risks for Bangladesh’s domestic industry, revenue and jobs, forecasts a state-sponsored research and training institute.
CEPA with India: Bangladesh forms two panels to start talks
Bangladesh has formed two separate committees to start negotiations with India over signing of a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA.
Bangladesh minister hopeful of preferential trade deal with Indonesia
Bangladesh commerce minister recently expressed hope to Indonesia that both the countries would soon sign a preferential trade agreement.
FTA negotiation with EAEU: BD eyes breakthrough in JWG meeting this month
Bangladesh is expecting to achieve a major breakthrough in the free-trade negotiation with the Eurasian Economic Union scheduled to be held in Dhaka late this month.
Dhaka, Bangkok keen to explore FTA prospects to boost bilateral trade
Bangladesh and Thailand have agreed to seriously explore the prospects of an FTA (free trade agreement) to further enhance the bilateral trade between the two countries.
Push for free trade agreement between Bangladesh, Nepal
Bangladesh has suggested exploring the possibilities of Free Trade Agreement with Nepal to increase two-way trade.
CAB urges energy ministry for not signing Energy Charter Treaty
The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) submitted a petition, signed by 25,720 persons, urging the energy ministry for not signing the Energy Charter Treaty as the signing of the treaty will affect the public interest and the nation’s energy sector.
CEPA negotiations likely to start in two months
Bangladesh and India are expected to start negotiations on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement within the next two months, officials said.
PM stresses signing PTA, FTA with Latin American countries
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina emphasised signing preferential trade agreement or free trade agreement with Mercosur countries soon, as Bangladesh will graduate into a developing country in 2026.
US wants Bangladesh to join Indo-Pacific Strategy
The US has been persuading Bangladesh to join in the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the “Quad”, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).