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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


Bangladesh decides to join largest trade bloc
Bangladesh has decided to join the world’s largest trading bloc, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), to stay eligible for duty-free trade facilities in the markets of nearly one-third of the global economies after it graduates to a developing nation in 2026.
Bangladesh, Australia going to strike TIFA deal
Bangladesh and Australia are set to sign Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) aimed at bolstering bilateral trade by way of removing barriers and tapping potential, officials said.
Bangladesh eagerly waiting for preferential trade agreement with Sri Lanka
Bangladesh is eagerly awaiting a preferential trade agreement with Sri Lanka and requires feels some kind of facilitation was necessary to take bilateral trade to the next level.
Dhaka to start negotiations with Colombo to sign PTA
The government will soon start negotiations aiming to sign a preferential trade agreement (PTA) between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka by July, in a bid to increase bilateral trade volume between the friendly nations.
FM, his Australian counterpart discuss progress on TIFA
Bangladesh and Australia are in discussion to sign a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) as the two countries want to take the relations to a new height shifting from development assistance to trade and investment.
Govt. takes policy on free and preferential trade deals
Bangladesh has adopted policy for executing bilateral agreements on free and preferential trade with different countries, says Finance Minister.
Experts urge selective protectionism as FTA with Malaysia returns to table
As a free trade agreement (FTA) with Malaysia returns to the table, experts fear local companies could lose business to Malaysian ones if duty-free market access is given in sectors where the latter has a competitive advantage.
FTA with Malaysia back on the table
Commerce minister says Bangladesh government will sign the deal with Malaysia should not be just for the duty free benefits on export but also for securing massive investments, according to economists.
Joint India-Bangladesh feasibility study on CEPA gains momentum
The first stakeholder consultation meeting of the joint study on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Bangladesh and India was held.
Dhaka’s negotiations with Kathmandu over PTA likely to face hurdles
The country’s negotiations with Nepal over the signing of Preferential Trade Agreement are moving at a snail’ space due to the difference of opinion on fiscal benefits.