Japan and Bangladesh to negotiate economic partnership agreement

Countries to discuss tariffs on apparel and steel to benefit both sides

20240120 Japan Bangladesh

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in April 2023. The countries hope to benefit from a potential EPA. (Pool photo via Reuters)

ANNA NISHINO, YUKI FUJITA and RYOSUKE HANADA, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO/MUMBAI -- Japan and Bangladesh are set to agree to launch negotiations for an economic partnership agreement as early as end of the month, Nikkei has learned, with the countries aiming to seal the deal in 2025.

Bangladesh exports a significant amount of textiles to Japan, with many Japanese companies investing in the South Asian nation. However, Bangladesh is expected to be upgraded from a United Nations list of "least-developed countries" in 2026, meaning that it will no longer be exempt from tariffs on exports to developed nations.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.