ISDS Case Map
Bangladesh
Bangladesh and the European Union are eyeing a Free Trade Agreement and an Investment Protection Agreement after the two sides initialled the Partnership Cooperation Agreement in Brussels yesterday.
Left-wing organizations in Bangladesh, have strongly condemned the recently signed trade agreement with the United States, labeling it as "unequal," "anti-national," and a "treaty of servitude."
The Ganatantrik Jukta Front, a combine of seven political parties, at a protest rally in Dhaka called on the government to take immediate steps to scrap the trade deal signed with United States during the interim government.
The reciprocal trade agreement signed with the US may severely limit Bangladesh’s energy options, Debapriya Bhattacharya, convener of Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, said.
New Zealand has proposed initiating negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with Bangladesh to significantly expand trade and investment between the two nations.
The new government in Bangladesh is seeking to deepen its engagement with Thailand and Asean, which may include the signing of a free trade agreement and the establishment of direct maritime connectivity.
Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates discussed ways to accelerate negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, infrastructure and Public Private Partnership projects.
The issue was highlighted during a discussion between Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and a delegation of EU ambassadors.
The Bangladesh-US reciprocal trade agreement bundles trade access with tight US control over Bangladesh's economic sovereignty, enforcing security alignment and restricting Bangladesh's dealings with other countries.
Digital trade rules embedded in Bangladesh’s new agreement with the US may deprive Bangladesh of tax revenues and also limit the expansion of digital economy, say experts.
