Bangladesh to Finalize First EPA with Japan
- Update Time : 06:50:25 am, Wednesday, 25 December 2024
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Bangladesh is set to sign its first-ever Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, marking a significant milestone in its trade relations. According to Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this decision was announced during a weekly briefing on December 24.
The third round of EPA negotiations between Bangladesh and Japan took place in Japan from December 18 to 20. The Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh has been leading the ongoing discussions, with previous negotiation rounds held in Dhaka on May 19-23 and November 10-14 in 2024. The fourth round of talks is scheduled for February next year in Dhaka, while the fifth round will follow in Tokyo in April.
If finalized successfully, this agreement will be Bangladesh’s first free trade agreement with any country. Discussions cover 21 chapters, including trade in goods and services, rules of origin, customs procedures, trade facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, public procurement, competition policy, e-commerce, investment, and intellectual property rights.
