Negotiations for the EPA were launched in March 2024. Talks were temporarily paused, but resumed in November last year under an accelerated schedule set by the interim government in Bangladesh.
Japan and Bangladesh reached an agreement in principle on an economic partnership agreement following a telephonic conversation today between two top ministers from both sides.
Japan will grant zero-duty entry to 7,379 products, including garments, from Bangladesh, while the latter will provide duty-free access to 1,039 products from the former.
Negotiations for the EPA were launched in March 2024.
Subsequent rounds were held in Dhaka and Tokyo between November 2024 and September 2025. The seventh and final round in Tokyo brought the discussions to a close, with the EPA text finalised in line with the original plan.
Both sides concurred to continue cooperating towards the signing of the EPA, a release from Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Both sides agreed to provide duty-free access to a large number of products.
Japan will grant zero-duty entry to 7,379 products, including readymade garments, from Bangladesh upon the conclusion and signing of the EPA. Bangladesh will provide duty-free access to 1,039 products from Japan, an official press release issued in Bangladesh said.
The deal also covers services, with Bangladesh opening 97 sub-sectors and Japan 120, paving the way for investment and technology transfer.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
