ISDS Case Map
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is on the cusp of signing its first-ever Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan, as the country prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country status in 2026.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has expressed interest in signing a free trade agreement with Bangladesh and in linking the special economic zones of the two countries.
Bangladesh is rushing to conclude a large number of bilateral free trade agreements. It will have to make massive concessions in areas critical to its development and future.
Bangladesh is seeking to sign free trade agreements with the European Union and other major trading partners to retain preferential access after graduating from the least-developed country category in November next year.
“Signing a CEPA with Bangladesh will serve as a bridgehead for Korean companies to enter the Southwest Asian market, which holds great potential,” said Kwon Hye-jin, director general for FTA negotiations at the ministry
Bangladesh is actively negotiating with the US to secure a mutually beneficial tariff agreement amid planned US tariffs on Bangladeshi goods. Bangladesh has offered zero-duty access for many US goods and commitments to increase imports of items like LNG, cotton, aircraft, and agricultural products to balance the trade gap.
Bangladesh now gears up drives for striking free-trade deals, with negotiations underway with a couple of countries, as the country prepares for post-graduation trade sans tariff concessions.
The US has agreed in principle to pursue a FTA with Bangladesh, which could provide duty-free access for Bangladeshi exports, especially in the readymade garments (RMG) sector, boosting trade with the US market.
Thailand and Bangladesh to launch formal FTA talks by the end of 2025, aiming to boost trade ties and expand export opportunities between the two nations.
Bangladesh is currently Thailand’s second-largest trading partner in South Asia. In 2024, the bilateral trade value between the two countries reached USD 1.13 billion, with Thailand exporting USD 1.04 billion worth of goods to Bangladesh.
