Bangladesh has resolved 48 of the 61 non-tariff barriers identified in trade with the European Union, while efforts continue to resolve the remaining 13, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said on Sunday.
He also said Bangladesh would soon begin negotiations for a free trade agreement with the EU, its largest export market.
He made the remarks after a meeting with representatives of the EU delegation in Bangladesh at the Secretariat in Dhaka.
The minister said Bangladesh had formally sought the EU’s support for its proposal to defer its graduation from the least developed country category by another three years. A decision on the proposal is expected at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly this month.
‘So far, we have resolved 48 non-tariff barriers with the EU, and we explained the progress to the ambassadors of the EU countries at today’s meeting,’ he said.
Among the barriers resolved were issues related to renewing licences for foreign logistics companies, doubling the limit for importing samples, and smart traceability, he said.
Prime minister’s finance and planning adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, state minister for foreign affairs Shama Obaed, state minister for planning Jonaed Abdur Rahim Saki and Investment Bangladesh Authority chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun attended the meeting.
EU ambassador and head of delegation to Bangladesh Michael Miller, along with ambassadors of the 27 EU member states, attended the meeting.
