Dhaka-Tokyo EPA opens duty-free doors for 7,379 products
The Council of Advisers on Thursday approved the signing of a landmark Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, granting Bangladesh immediate duty-free access to the Japanese market for 7,379 products, while Japan will receive duty-free entry for 1,039 Bangladeshi products.
Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam described the agreement as “historic” and a milestone in Bangladesh’s trade relations. Speaking at the Foreign Service Academy, he noted that the EPA will strengthen Bangladesh’s negotiating position with other countries and help diversify exports and markets.
“The agreement will particularly benefit Bangladesh’s RMG sector, granting duty-free access to one of the world’s largest economies,” Alam said. “As a Least Developed Country (LDC), this marks the first time Bangladesh is signing an EPA with Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy.”
The EPA is expected to deliver significant trade and economic benefits, including enhanced exports, foreign investment, and employment opportunities, opening a new chapter in Bangladesh-Japan economic relations.
The negotiations began with the formation of a Joint Study Group, which published its report on 27 December 2023, recommending a comprehensive approach across 17 sectors.
Formal negotiations started on 12 March 2024, and after rounds of discussions – including the first held in Dhaka from 19-23 May 2024 – the draft agreement was finalized last month.
In addition to the EPA, the Council of Advisers approved several key economic and regulatory measures at its weekly meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus. Among the approved items were:
Bangladesh Private Export Processing Zones Act (Repeal) Ordinance, 2026
Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026
Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026
Gambling Prevention Ordinance, 2026
Dhaka Central University Ordinance, 2026
Private Educational Institutions Teachers and Employees Retirement Benefits Board Ordinance, 2026
Private Educational Institutions Teachers and Employees Welfare Trust Ordinance, 2026
Right to Information Ordinance, 2026
Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Bangladesh and Malaysia
National Poultry Development Policy, 2026
Drafts of the Money Laundering Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, and the Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework (BNQF) Policy, 2026, were sent back for further review.
The agreement with Japan positions Bangladesh to expand its global trade footprint and signals growing investor confidence in the country’s economic and regulatory environment, analysts said.