Bangladesh Government to form expert panel to steer trade negotiations

Bangladesh is set to form an expert pool of trade negotiators as the country intensifies efforts to secure new trade deals ahead of its graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category in November next year.

The initiative comes as Dhaka engages with nearly a dozen countries to sign free trade agreements (FTAs), preferential trade agreements (PTAs), comprehensive economic partnership agreements (CEPAs), and economic partnership agreements (EPAs) to preserve market access once existing LDC benefits expire.

“We are trying to form a pool of resources for negotiations to sign trade agreements,” Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said on Sunday at a discussion titled Building National Capabilities in Trade Negotiations: Reflections & Way Forward held at the InterContinental Dhaka.

Negotiations with Singapore are expected to begin shortly, while talks with South Korea are ongoing, Rahman noted. He added that a Bangladeshi delegation is currently in Tokyo for the final round of discussions on an EPA with Japan, which could be signed this year. If successful, it will mark Bangladesh’s first full-fledged economic partnership deal, following its PTA with Bhutan in 2020.

Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin said the Government aims to strengthen institutional capacity so the negotiators’ pool can evolve into a dynamic force capable of navigating global trade complexities and protecting the nation’s economic interests.

British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke assured that the UK will continue duty-free access for Bangladeshi goods after graduation and expressed interest in sharing technical expertise on trade negotiations.

Other speakers, including Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller, and Additional Commerce Secretary Md Abdur Rahim Khan, underscored both opportunities and challenges. They cautioned that Bangladesh’s narrow export basket, reliance on garments, and current economic pressures could complicate negotiations.

Despite meeting graduation thresholds on income, human assets, and economic vulnerability, several business leaders have urged the government to seek a six-year deferral, extending the transition to 2032 to safeguard duty-free market access, particularly to the European Union. They warn that losing EU trade preferences could slash exports by up to 14 percent, or $7 billion, threatening jobs in the garment and footwear industries that dominate 90 percent of shipments.

Experts stressed that timely negotiations are critical to secure favorable terms, diversify export destinations, and ensure a smooth transition for Bangladesh’s economy in the post-LDC era.