Refayet Ullah Mirdha

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.

Bangladesh and Japan yesterday signed a historic Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in Tokyo, aimed at attracting Japanese investment and retaining preferential trade benefits after Bangladesh graduates from the least developed country (LDC) category in November this year.

Commerce Adviser of Bangladesh, Sk. Bashir Uddin, and Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, HORII Iwao, signed the agreement in Tokyo

This is going to be the first-ever EPA to be signed by Bangladesh with any country

Operational activities at Chattogram port finally resumed yesterday afternoon after a six-day impasse, as protesting employees postponed their ongoing work abstention until Saturday following assurances from Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hussain that steps would be taken to meet their demands.

Chattogram Port has ground to a halt in the last two days as workers and employees went on an indefinite work abstention over the government’s move to lease the key New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based DP World.

Bangladesh is stepping into a new phase of trade diplomacy as it signs its first Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan tomorrow, a deal meant to preserve duty-free market access after the country’s graduation from the least developed country club later this year.

The country’s merchandise exports held nearly steady in January, with shipments totalling $4.41 billion, down 0.50 percent year-on-year, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data.

The BGMEA sent a note to the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC)

The European Union and India reached a sweeping free trade deal granting Indian clothing manufacturers duty-free access to the bloc.

Political parties need to prioritise law and order, macroeconomic stability, and ease of doing business in their election manifestos, say business leaders and trade bodies.

The interim government’s advisory council yesterday approved the signing of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, paving the way for duty-free market access for Bangladeshi exports to the East Asian country after LDC graduation.

The commerce ministry has recommended that the revenue board end the duty-free import of certain types of yarn under the bonded warehouse facility.

The country’s ready-made garment (RMG) exports to the European Union (EU) grew 7.65 percent to €18.05 billion (around $20 billion) during the January-November period of last year, compared with the same period in 2024, according to Eurostat, the EU’s official statistical office.

American buyers are tapping the shoulder of Bangladeshi apparel makers. While exchanging new year greetings, Canadian buyers are also asking them how things are going. Local manufacturers say they are receiving phone calls and emails from buyers in Europe as well.

Bangladesh’s readymade garment exports to the United States, the country’s largest single-market destination, grew more than 15 percent year-on-year to $7.08 billion in the January-October period, according to US government data.

The garment exporters, textile millers and senior officials of the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) could not reach a consensus on a proposal to impose a 20 percent safeguard duty on yarn imports, pushing the issue to the commerce ministry for a final decision.

To decide the way forward, Trade and Tariff Commission is meeting today with spinners, garment makers and knitwear manufacturers

Merchandise shipments dropped in Dec for a fifth straight month

At the core of their concerns is the absence of trade agreements