Bangladesh has approved a proposal to sign an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, aiming to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Under the agreement, Bangladesh will receive immediate duty-free access to the Japanese market for 7,379 products, while Japan will gain duty-free access to 1,039 Bangladeshi products.Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam described the EPA as a historic milestone, noting that it will help Bangladesh diversify exports, expand market access, and improve trade negotiations with other countries.The agreement is especially significant as Bangladesh, an LDC, will be signing its first EPA with Japan—the world’s fourth-largest economy. The deal is expected to boost trade, investment, and employment opportunities.Formal negotiations began in March 2024, following a joint study report released in December 2023. The draft EPA was finalised last month.
