An adviser made a statement after meeting with Michael Miller, the EU ambassador in Bangladesh, at the commerce ministry in Dhaka. Miller highlighted that signing an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU could greatly benefit Bangladesh, as the EU is its largest trading partner. He mentioned that Bangladesh exports more to the EU than it imports, indicating potential for trade and investment growth between the two. Bangladesh is in talks with various trading partners to secure preferential trade deals, such as EPAs, Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). These deals aim to ensure zero-duty trade benefits when Bangladesh graduates from the least developed country (LDC) category next year. The EU is Bangladesh's largest trade bloc, exporting over $25 billion annually, which is more than 60 percent of the country’s total exports. Bangladesh is also seeking GSP Plus status from the EU for additional zero-duty benefits after its LDC graduation, but it must sign 32 international conventions, including ones related to human rights and labor rights. Currently, Bangladesh has only one preferential trade agreement with Bhutan. The EU has extended duty-free access until 2029, but without new agreements, tariffs will apply later, potentially harming the garment sector, which accounts for 64 percent of its EU exports. (ICE NEW DELHI)

Fonte notizia: The Daily Star