Bangladesh, Japan finalise economic partnership deal
Bangladesh and Japan have concluded negotiations on a landmark Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), clearing the way for wide-ranging trade liberalisation, expanded market access and deeper economic cooperation between the two countries.
Under the agreement, Japan will grant duty-free access to 7,379 Bangladeshi products, including ready-made garments, once the EPA is formally signed and comes into force. In return, Bangladesh will allow zero-duty entry for 1,039 Japanese products, according to an official press statement.
The interim government announced the breakthrough after Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin confirmed the completion of talks following a phone conversation with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu. The deal is seen as a major boost for Bangladesh as it prepares for graduation from least developed country (LDC) status and seeks to secure preferential market access in key export destinations.
Beyond goods, the EPA includes commitments in services and investment. Bangladesh has agreed to open 97 service sub-sectors, while Japan will open 120, a move expected to encourage Japanese investment, technology transfer and skills development in Bangladesh’s manufacturing, infrastructure and service industries.
Negotiations were preceded by the work of a Joint Study Group, which released its report on December 27, 2023, recommending a comprehensive agreement covering 17 sectors. Formal talks began on March 12, 2024, under an agreed work plan, with the first negotiation round held in Dhaka in May that year.
Although discussions were briefly paused, negotiations resumed in November 2024 under an accelerated timetable set by the interim government. Subsequent rounds took place in both Dhaka and Tokyo between November 2024 and September 2025, reflecting sustained political and technical engagement from both sides.
The seventh and final round, held in Tokyo, concluded the process, with negotiators finalising the EPA text in line with the original roadmap. Officials in Dhaka and Tokyo say the agreement will strengthen bilateral trade, integrate supply chains and elevate the long-standing economic partnership between Bangladesh and Japan to a new strategic level.
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