Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir told parliament on 8 June 2026 that Bangladesh could lose preferential market access in developed economies after graduating from least developed country (LDC) status, potentially affecting exports worth about $17.5 billion, The Business Standard reported.
He said Bangladesh has concluded an Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan, is negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with South Korea, and is pursuing deals with the EU, RCEP members, the UAE, Singapore, Indonesia and China.
The trade deficit widened to $24.16 billion in FY2024-25 from $21.50 billion, with exports of $55.19 billion against imports of $79.35 billion. With ready-made garments still 84% of export earnings, the government is extending bonded warehouse facilities to eight more sectors and creating a Tk5,000 crore pre-shipment loan fund, the minister said.
Event date: 8 June 2026
Sources: This report summarises the following original reporting. Facts and quotations are attributed to these sources.
- The Business Standard, Bangladesh risks $17.5b export hit after LDC graduation: Commerce minister (8 June 2026)
More from Export–Import & Trade.
File photo: containers at Chattogram port. Photo: Moheen Reeyad / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This article is a summary prepared by Maritime News BD from the report(s) listed above; it was not independently reported by Maritime News BD.
