WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
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II. TRADE POLICY REGIME:  FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES 
(1) OVERVIEW  
1. During the period under review, Bangladesh's legislative and institutional framework 
governing trade and foreign direct investment has ch anged only slightly.  Efforts have been made to 
ensure better policy coordination of trade and related WTO matters by, inter alia,  creating a WTO 
Cell at the Ministry of Commerce, the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute and a National Advisory 
Committee.  Despite its strong attachment to, and active involvement in, the multilateral rules-based 
system, Bangladesh, an advocate of special and di fferential treatment of LDCs at the WTO, is 
involved in negotiations to deepen its existing regi onal integration (including free-trade agreements) 
and for other preferential trade arrangements.  Ba ngladesh has benefited from several forms of trade-
related technical assistance (Annex II.1).  Foreign direct investment in the ready made garments 
(RMGs) industry is no longer discouraged.  
(2) INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK  
2. The President is the Head of State, elected by Members of Parliament for a term of five years 
extendable for another term;  the current President 's term began in September 2002.  Executive power 
is vested in the Prime Minister, who selects and heads the Cabinet;  the Cabinet is collectively 
responsible to Parliament.  The President appoint s the Prime Minister.  The President's duties are 
generally ceremonial, as he/she must act in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.  
3. Legislative power is vested in Parliament, which comprises 300 member s directly elected by 
universal adult suffrage and, as from 2004, an a dditional 45 (previously 30) women members elected 
by the other 300 members.  Unless dissolved sooner by the President, Parliament is dissolved on the 
expiry of the five-year period from the date of its fi rst meeting, and a general election is called by the 
President.  The last parliamentary el ections were held in October 2001. 
4. A proposal for a law, in the form of a bill, must  be passed by a majority vote of the total 
number of members present in Parliament;  it is th en sent to the President fo r assent.  Upon assent, the 
bill becomes an Act of Parliament.  Money bills cannot be introduced into Parliament without the 
recommendation of the President. 
5. The highest judicial body is the Supreme Cour t, comprising the Appellate Division and the 
High Court Division.  The Supreme Court consists  of the Chief Justice and other judges who are 
appointed by the President.  There are criminal  and civil courts nationwide, and metropolitan 
magistrates in the major cities.  Financial matters are dealt with in money loan courts and bankruptcy 
courts.  Despite widely acknowledged corruption in the lower courts and pending legislation to make 
the judiciary independent, the highest levels of the judiciary, including the Supreme Court, retain a reputation for fairness and competence; at the appe llate level the outcome of commercial cases seems 
to be usually determined on merit.
1  The authorities indicate that in recent years procedural laws like 
the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and Code of Cr iminal Procedure, 1898 have been amended to 
include provisions for imposing penalties or costs for delaying legal proceedings. 
6. A 1980 law to establish an Office of Ombudsman became effective on 6 January 2002.  A 
Cabinet Committee has been constituted to scru tinize and update the law, which remains under 
                                                      
1 USTC (2003). Bangladesh WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 
 Page 21 
 
 
consideration by the Committee;  no date for the est ablishment of the Office could be indicated to the 
Secretariat (February 2006).2  
(3) DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF TRADE POLICY  
(i) Main trade laws 
7. Reforms in the legal and regulatory frame work, which is considered outdated and 
undermanned, have become essential for facilita ting economic growth and social development.3  
Since 2000, new legislation has been passed on:  public procurement;  copyrights;  energy;  
telecommunications;  money loans;  and land ports (Table II.1, Chapters III and IV). 
Table II.1 
Main legislation relating to trad e and trade-related activities 
Area  Legislation  
Customs duties Customs Act, 1969 
Import regulations Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 19 50;  Customs Act, 1969;  Re view, Appeal and Revision 
Order, 1977;  Importers, Exporters and Indent ors (Registration) Order, 1981;  Licences and 
Permit Fees Order, 1985 
Customs valuation Amendments intr oduced to the Customs Act, 1969 
Preshipment inspection Amendments introduced to the Customs Act, 1969 
Rules of origin Standard Rules of Origin, 1977 
Standards Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950 
Sanitary and phytosanitary measures Im ports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950 
Marketing and labelling Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950 
Anti-dumping measures  Amendments introduced to the Customs Act, 1969 
Countervailing measures Amendments introduced to the Customs Act, 1969 
Safeguard measures Amendments introduced to the Customs Act, 1969 
Pricing and marketing arrangements Consumer Index 
Export regulations Imports and Exports (C ontrol) Act, 1950; Customs Act, 1969 
Government procurement Public Procurement Regulations 2003;  Pro cedures For Implementation of The Public 
Procurement Regulations 2003;  Public Procurement Proce ssing and Approval Procedures 
Competition law No legislation 
Intellectual property right s Patents and Design Act, 1919;  Copyright Act No. 28, 2000;  Trade Marks Act, 1940 
Foreign investment Foreign Investment (Promotion and Protection ) Act, 1980 
Foreign exchange  Foreign Exch ange (Regulation) Act, 1947 
Banking services Banking Companies Act, 1991 
Insurance services Insurance Act, 1938;  Insuran ce Corporations Act, 1973;  Insurance Rules, 1953 
Telecommunications services Telegraph Act, 1887;  Telecommunication Act No. 18, 2001 
Maritime transport services Merchant Sh ipping Ordinance, 1993;  Inland Shipping Ordinance, 1976;  Bangladesh Flag Vessel 
(Protection) Ordinance, 1982 
Note: No comments on the content of this table were provided by the authorities. 
Source:  WTO Secretariat, based on information provided by the Bangladeshi authorities. 
 
                                                      
2 Presentation by H.E. Moudud Ahmed, Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, Promoting 
Good Governance and Human Security,  at the Bangladesh Development Forum, held in Dhaka on 9 May 2004.  
Available at:  http://www.minlaw.gov.bd/bdf2004.htm [2 June 2005]. 
3 Planning Commission (2004);  and USTC (2003). WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
Page 22 
 
 
8. The Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950, empowers the Government to regulate the 
import and export of goods and services.  The Import Policy Order (IPO), which governs the 
conditions for imports, is formul ated under the authority of the 1950 Act on a five-year basis.4  The 
Customs Act, 1969, governs the levying and collect ion of customs duties.  The Foreign Exchange 
(Regulation) Act, 1947, governs foreign exchange re gulations.  The three Acts are complementary;  
infringement of one may also involve infringement of another, and be punish able under more than one 
Act.  Every five years, Customs issues a detaile d import-export policy to guide import activities for 
that period.  The scope of application of the Import Policy Order 1997-2002 was extended and 
remained in effect until the Ca binet Committee on Economic Affair s approved the new Import Policy 
2003-2006 on 19 October 2003;  an Export Policy 2003-2006 is also in place. 
(ii) Formulation and implementation of trade-related policies 
9. The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) is primarily responsible for formulating, implementing, 
enforcing, and monitoring trade policy matters through the Bangladesh Tariff Commission (BTC), the 
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), and the Office of  the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports 
(CCIE).  Tariff policy is designed by the BTC.  The IPO is drawn up and enforced by the CCIE.  The 
Consultative Committee on Exports, in the EPB, prepar es a preliminary draft of the Export Policy and 
the MOC finalizes it.  Unlike the IPO, which has the status of law, the Export Policy is merely a 
statement of intent without any legal authority.   The National Board of Revenue (NBR), under the 
Ministry of Finance, administers all taxes, in cluding customs duties and VAT, as well as tax holidays 
and other tax concessions.  A number of other ministries and agencies are also involved in the process 
of formulating and implementing trade and trade -related policies (Table II.2).  Coordination is 
achieved through meetings at inter-ministeria l, cabinet subcommittee and cabinet level. 
Table II.2 
Ministerial responsibility for trade and trade-related issues 
Government ministry/agency  Area of responsibility  
Ministry of Agriculture  Agricultural policy, SPS 
SAARC Agricultural Information Center  
Department of Agricultural Extension  (DAE)  
Bangladesh Agricultural Research  Council (BARC)  
Ministry of Commerce Import and export policies,  WTO coordination, SAPTA and other regional 
agreements, insurance services 
Chief Controller of Import and Export Registration of importers and exporters 
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Export pr omotion, textile quo ta administration 
Tariff Commission Tariff policy, anti-dumping and countervailing investigations, safeguards 
Ministry of Cultural Affairs  
Copyright Office Copyright 
Ministry of Finance Banking services, subsidies 
Bangladesh Bank Export finance, banking services, interest rate subsidies 
National Board of Revenue (NBR) Customs, preshipment in spection, customs valuation, tariffs and other duties, 
tax holidays and tax concessions, duty drawbacks 
Ministry of Industries Industrial policy 
Bangladesh Standards and Tes ting Institute  Standards 
Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Co rporation Small and cottage industries 
Department of Patent Designs, and Trademarks  Patents, industrial designs, and trade marks 
Ministry of Post and Telecommunica tions Telecommunications services 
Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Air transport 
Table II.2 (cont'd) 
                                                      
4 Prior to the current IPO 1997-2002, they were formulated biennially. Bangladesh WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 
 Page 23 
 
 
Government ministry/agency  Area of responsibility  
Prime Minister's Office  
Privatization Commission Privatization of state-owned enterprises 
Board of Investment Registration of investors (incl uding foreign investment),  investment facilities 
Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority 
(BEPZA) Export processing zones 
Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Energy policy 
Ministry of Shipping (MOS) Maritime transport 
Ministry of Health  SPS  
Ministry of Planning   
Planning Commission Five-Year Plan;  Three-Ye ar Rolling Plan;  PRSP (Poverty Reduction 
Strategy Paper) 
Central Procurement Technical Unit 
(CPTU)/Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation 
Division  Government procurement 
Ministry of Textiles and Jute Textile and jute policy 
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock SPS 
Ministry of Food and Disaster Mana gement Food and disaster management 
Ministry of Environment and Forest  Environmental and forest policy  
Ministry of Communications Road and rail transport 
Note: No comments were provided by the authorities on the content of this table. 
Source:  WTO Secretariat, based on information provided by the Bangladeshi authorities.  
10. A WTO Cell (working informally since May 2001, and established officially in 
October 2003), in the Ministry of Commerce, has ensured a bridge between the Ministry and the 
Bangladesh Mission in Geneva.  As from March 2002,  the authorities consult regularly (at least once 
a month) within a National Advisory Committee with the private sector, academics, local think tanks and NGOs in coordinating the formulation of the country's negotiating strategy and positions on 
WTO-related issues;  as a result of the Hong Kong Declaration three sub-committees were established 
(on market access, export diversification, and ser vices sector under Mode 4 of GATS).  A Bangladesh 
Foreign Trade Institute has also been set up (2004). 
(iii) Advisory and review bodies 
11. There are several policy consultative bodies with public and private sector participation.  
They include the Import Advisory Committee and the Export Promotion Council, the National Committee on Export, the National Council for Industrial Development. 
12. The private sector remains closely involved in the formulation of trade policy through its 
participation in advisory bodies.  The Federati on of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry 
is the apex body representing the pr ivate sector at the national level.  Monitoring and periodic reviews 
are also carried out to examine implementation of suggestions received from the private sector.
5  
Independent academic institutions, such as the Bang ladesh Institute for Development Studies, the 
Centre for Policy Dialogue, the Bangladesh Ec onomic Association, the Bangladesh Unnayan 
Parishad, the Development Initiatives and the Banglad esh Enterprise Institute, issue papers and are 
often involved in these trade-related policy debates.6  
                                                      
5 WTO document WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.1, 24 October 1997. 
6 WTO document WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.1, 24 October 1997. WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
Page 24 
 
 
(4) TRADE POLICY OBJECTIVES  
13. During the period under review, Bangladesh h as pursued its outward-oriented growth 
strategy, making further efforts to reduce the an ti-export bias prevalent in the economy and improve 
competitiveness while keeping in view medium-t erm imperatives and long-term development.7  
According to the authorities, an exclusive fo cus on trade for poverty alleviation may not be 
meaningful;  rather, trade should be considered as a component of overall development policy.  Trade 
policy seeks to achieve adequate export growth with  employment generation, which is expected to 
have a direct effect on poverty alleviation.8 
14. Bangladesh's trade policy objectives as per Import Policy Order 2003-2006 have been to:  
keep pace with globalization and the gradual deve lopment of a free market economy under the WTO 
rules;  facilitate imports of technology to expand use of modern technology;  ease imports for export 
industries, in order to place them on a sound basis a nd, to this end, coordinate the import policy with 
the industrial policy, export policy and other de velopment programmes;  and make industrial raw 
materials more easily available to increase comp etition and efficiency.  Calibrating trade policy 
reform to support small and medium-sized en terprises development is another priority. 
15. The objectives stated in the Export Policy 2003- 2006, which stresses the need for product-
based and sector-based development, include produc t diversification/expansio n, capacity building of 
export-related institutions, and id entification and appraisal of advantages for LDCs provided under 
WTO rules.9  Tax and non-tax support measures, including in come tax rebates, project loans at lower 
interest, cash support, export credit on easy terms, and reduced interest rates, reduced costs for air 
cargo, and duty drawbacks (Chapter III), are exp ected to increase the export volume and "overcome 
all possible obstacles".  Annual sector-specific ex port targets (envisaging more than 10% annual 
increase) are set for, inter alia,  highest priority and special development sectors (Box III.1), that is:  
RMGs, knitwear, frozen food, leather, jute produc ts, raw jute, chemicals, tea, agri-products, 
handicrafts, electronic goods, engineering produ cts, petroleum products, computer software, 
specialized fabrics, textile fabrics, cer amic tableware, bicycles, and shoes. 
16. According to the Planning Commission, Bangl adesh has been very late in seizing the 
opportunity of participating in regional free-tr ade agreements (SAFTA and BIMST-EC came into 
operation only in 2006, section 5(ii)) that "shelter exclusive markets for member countries".10  The 
authorities aim to negotiate modalities that would no t give disproportionate advantages to the larger, 
technologically advanced and dynamic enterprises of  the more developed member countries to the 
detriment of smaller Bangladeshi firms. 
17. The 2005 Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PSRP)  (Chapter I), which provides a review of 
Bangladesh's trade policy and reform measures together  with future directions for the post-Multifibre 
Arrangement/Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (M FA/ATC) era sketches out 25 observations and 
recommendations for promoting trade.11  Some major imperatives mentioned are:  (i) effective 
measures for dealing with the MFA phase-out situation;  (ii) readjustment of tariffs so that the highest 
duty rate is reduced, but on the whole the tariff st ructure remains revenue neutral;  (iii) ensuring the 
neutrality of supplementary duty and VAT by appl ying them to domestic import-substituting activities 
in a non-discriminatory fashion;  (iv) reducing th e effective protection to improve domestic resource 
allocation;  (v) a realistic tariff rationalization programme to substantia lly benefit the domestic 
                                                      
7 Planning Commission (2004). 
8 IMF (2005c). 
9 Export Promotion Bureau (undated);  and Planning Commission (2004). 
10 Planning Commission (2004). 
11 IMF (2005a). Bangladesh WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 
 Page 25 
 
 
industry relying on imported intermediate goods;  (vi) a proactive and analytical policy regime in the 
foreign trade sector to support the growth of small and informal sector activities with significant poverty alleviation effects;  (vii) exchange of ta riff preferences under regional trading arrangements 
(RTAs) and free-trade areas (FTAs) involving Bangladesh;  (viii) exports from industries with 
potential to be expanded by removing the supply side c onstraints;  (ix) a revised approach at policy, 
institutional, and enterprise levels to make interv ention schemes or support systems comprehensive;  
(x) a well-devised contingency plan to address any adverse consequences of the MFA-phase out;  
(xi) serious initiatives to convince the United St ates and the EC of the importance of the RMG 
industry for Bangladesh's economy and how the issues of zero tariff and simplification of rules of 
origin (ROO) could prove to be crucial for the c ountry's continued export success;  and (xii) removal 
of import duties by Bangladesh's major trading partners. 
18. According to the 2005 PRSP, planned changes in trade policy should be announced well in 
advance, and be accompanied by adequate measures to relax various supply-side bottlenecks so as to 
provide a level playing field to domestic producers in competing with imports.
12  It is recognized that 
better physical, financial, and legal infrastructur e facilities are more conducive to export expansion 
than direct subsidies in the longer term.   
(5) TRADE AGREEMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS  
(i) World Trade Organization 
19. Bangladesh (a GATT contracting party since 16 December 1972) participated actively in the 
Uruguay Round negotiations and is an original Me mber of the WTO.  By 2004, the authorities 
considered it important to have a strong trade te am (staffed exclusively by economic and trade 
specialists) in its Geneva mission to defe nd Bangladeshi trade interests in the WTO.13  Bangladesh 
could not undertake commitments without understanding their full implication. 
20. On behalf of the least developed countries (LDCs), Bangladesh continues to advocate the 
implementation of special and differential treatme nt in favour of LDCs, and has emphasized the 
problems faced by LDCs in the multilateral trading system.  At the 4th Ministerial Meeting in Doha 
(9-13 November 2001), Bangladesh underlined the im pact on poverty-reduction efforts of reduced 
market demand in developed countries (particul arly in the apparel and frozen food industries)14;  
Bangladesh placed foreign trade and trade liberalizati on at the core of its development strategy and 
sought the active intervention of trading partners to  facilitate its meaningful participation in world 
trade. 
21. At the 5th Ministerial Conference, in Cancún (10- 14 September 2003), on the occasion of the 
accession of Cambodia and Nepal, Bangladesh underlin ed that accession of LDCs was a priority for 
the membership.15  The adoption of guidelines to facilita te their accession was indicative of the 
commitment of the membership to the cause of the LDCs. 
22. Bangladesh has been involved in Doha Round wo rk, (mostly on behalf of the LDCs group) 
participating in discussions/work in the Trade Negotiations Committee (joint communication on Doha 
work programme on special and differential treat ment and outstanding impl ementation issues), the 
Council for Trade in Services Special Session, Di spute Settlement Body Special Session, Committee 
on Agriculture Special Session (food aid, exem ption from reduction commitments, quota-free access, 
                                                      
12 IMF (2005a). 
13 Planning Commission (2004). 
14 WTO document WT/MIN(01)/ST/40, 10 November 2001. 
15 WTO document WT/MIN(03)/ST/35,  11 September 2003. WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
Page 26 
 
 
phasing-out of export subsidies, etc.), Negotiati ng Group on Market Access (submission of inventory 
of non-tariff barriers, negotiating proposal for non- agricultural products), Negotiating Group on Rules 
(joint communication on anti-dumping actions in the area of textiles and clothing), and the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitati on (customs administration).  
23. At the 6
th Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong, China (13-18 December 2005), Bangladesh 
reiterated its request for duty- and quota-free mark et access for all LDC products in the developed 
countries and in developing countries in a position to grant such access conditions.16  It also sought a 
regime to facilitate the movement of temporary ser vice providers (i.e. workers), under Mode 4 of the 
Services Agreement, that curtailed abuses while meeti ng genuine needs.  In the light of the erosion of 
preferences by MFN tariff cuts, Bangladesh consid ered that more innovative preferential schemes 
should be found to help the LDCs. 
24. According to researchers from the think-tank Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh's 
market access and GATS Mode 4 ambitions from the Hong Kong Ministerial remain frustrated; 
option 2 of Annex F effectively deprived  Bangladesh of improved market access.17  The CPD believes 
that Bangladesh needs to reinvigorate its negotiating ca pacities during the last lap of the round, and to 
revisit its trade promotion and industrialization stra tegies.  The researchers consider that the country's 
defensive interests were met through the July (2 004) framework agreement whereby LDCs were not 
required to undertake any obligations under the Doha  Round.  However, they are concerned about the 
preference erosion that will result from substan tive tariff reductions on industrial goods from NAMA 
negotiations;  for Bangladesh, the net preference erosion may be considerable (US$42.1 million for 
RMG to the EC).18  Positive implications of the NAMA negotiations will include access to the 
U.S. market (where Bangladeshi industrial goods do not benefit from preferential treatment) and 
increased competitive edge vis-à-vis  Carribean and sub-Saharan African countries (eligible for 
preferential treatment under the AGOA and CBI regimes).19  Prior to the Hong Kong Ministerial, 
preparatory work on the priorities in several areas for LDCs was undertaken in the framework of the 
International Civil Society's Forum 2005 (Dhaka, 3-5 October 2005), which concluded with the 
adoption of the Dhaka Declaration 2005.20 
25. Despite longer implementation pe riods available to LDCs, Bangladesh is taking action to 
bring its trade-related legislati on into conformity with the WTO Agreements.  TRIPS-consistent 
copyright legislation came into force at the beginning of 2000, and other IPR legislation is expected to 
come into force in the near future (section 3(i), Chapter III).   
26. Bangladesh has made efforts to meet its obliga tions concerning WTO notifications in certain 
areas, e.g. agriculture (Table II.3).  However, its la test submission of tariff data to the WTO Integrated 
Database (IDB) dates back to 1998/99 (i.e. previous  TPR);  the authorities agreed that data collected 
for the present TPR could be used for IDB notification purposes.21 
                                                      
16 WTO document WT/MIN(05)/ST/38, 15 December 2005. 
17 Centre for Policy Dialogue (2005b).  
18 This amount represents an estimate of the additio nal customs duty revenue that is to be collected by 
the EC on Bangladeshi exports upon implementation of future tariff reductions resulting from NAMA negotiations. 
19 Centre for Policy Dialogue (2005c).  
20 Centre for Policy Dialogue (2005a).  
21 WTO document G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.22, 26 September 2005. Bangladesh WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 
 Page 27 
 
 
Table II.3  
WTO notifications, 2000 to end March 2006 
Agreement Requirement/content Periodicity WTO document and date  
(latest document if recurrent) 
Agreement on Agriculture 
Articles 10 and 18.2 Tables ES.1 to ES.3 – E xport subsidies Annual G/AG/N/BGD/1, 15 July 2002 
Article 18.2 Table DS.1 to DS.9 – Domestic  Support Annual G/AG/N/BGD/2, 30 August 2005 
Agreement on Implementation of GATT Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-dumping) 
Article 16.4 Semi-annual reports of anti-dumping 
actions (taken within the preceding six 
months) Semi-annual G/ADP/N/85/Add.1/Rev.1, 
14 October 2002 
Articles 16.5 Competent authority to initiate anti-
dumping investigations Once, then changes G/ADP/N /14/Add.15, 16 October 2002 
Agreement on Preshipment Inspection 
Article 5 Laws and regulations Once, th en changes  G/PSI/N/1/Add.10, 19 July 2004 
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994  
Article XVIII:C, 
para. 14 Safeguard measure for development 
purposes Ad hoc G/C/7, 16 January 2002 
Paragraph 9 of the 
Understanding on 
Balance-of-Payments Provisions of the 
GATT 1994 Import restriction measures Ad hoc WT/BOP/N/62, 18 February 2004 
General Agreement on Trade in Services 
Article III:4 and IV:2 Contact and e nquiry points Within two years from 
entry into force of WTO, 
then changes  S/ENQ/78/Rev.8, 3 November 2005 
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  
Article 7.3 Replies to questionnaire on import 
licensing procedures Annual for questionnaire G/LIC/N/3/BGD/2, 4 April 2005 
Article 1.4(a) Import licensing procedures Ad hoc G/LIC/N/1/BGD/2, 1 April 2005 
Agreement on Safeguards  
Article 12.6 Laws and regulations Once by March 1995, 
then changes G/SG/N/1/BGD/1, 17 September 2002  
Agreement on Subsidies a nd Countervailing Measures  
Article 25.11 Semi-annual report on countervailing 
duty actions Semi-annual G/SCM/N/81/Add.1/Rev.1, 
18 October 2002 
Article 25.12 Competent authority to initiate 
countervailing investigations Ad hoc G/SCM/N/18/Add.15, 16 October 2002 
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade 
Annex 3C Acceptance of code of good prac tice Ad hoc G/TBT/CS/N/145, 22 July 2002 
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspect s of Intellectual Property Rights  
Article 63.2 Laws and regulations  Once, then changes IP/N/1/BGD/1, 24 June 2002 
Article 69 Contact points Once, then ch anges IP/N/3/Rev.6/Add.2, 14 October 2002 
Decision on Notification Procedures for Quantitative Restrictions  
 Quantitative restrictions  Biennially G/MA/NTM/QR/1/Add.10, 
28 March 2006 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
(ii) Regional agreements 
27. Bangladesh is a member of two regional trading arrangements:  the SAARC Preferential 
Trading Arrangement (SAPTA), which is being st rengthened with the gradual establishment of a 
South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA);  and the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), known as WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
Page 28 
 
 
the Bangkok Agreement.  Bangladesh also partic ipates in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi 
Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation or  Bangladesh–India–Myanmar–Sri Lanka–Thailand 
Economic Cooperation (BIMST-EC). 
28. The Bangkok Agreement and SAPTA were no tified to the GATT/WTO Committee on Trade 
and Development pursuant to the Enabling Clause in 1976 and 1997, respectively.22  
SAARC and SAFTA 
29. Members of the South Asian Association fo r Regional Cooperation (SAARC) signed the 
SAPTA on 11 April 1993, providing for increased  market access among themselves, effective 
7 December 1995.  The seven SAARC members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, 
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.  The first four countries,  designated as least developed under the agreement, 
are eligible for additional concessions.  While de veloped members offer tariff concessions in the 
range of 5% to 100% of the MFN level to the LDC members, the LDC members offer concessions 
only in the range of 10% to 20% to other members. 
30. During their first round of trade negotiations , SAPTA members agreed to exchange duty 
concessions on 226 items.23  The second round of trade negotiations, launched in March 1996, 
broadened tariff concessions to about 2,100 commodities at the six-digit HS Code level, and removed 
non-tariff barriers on 180 commodities.  In the third round of negotiations, comme ncing in July 1997, 
the product coverage was further extended to ap proximately 5,400 items, with tariff concessions 
ranging from 5% to 100% cuts in the MFN level.  Bangladesh grants tariff concessions on 494 items 
at the eight-digit HS level for all the SAPTA memb ers, and additional concessions on 206 items for 
the three other LDC members (Chapter III). 
31. The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agre ement, signed on 6 January 2004, entered 
into force on 1 January 2006.  Under the Trade Liberalisation Programme, scheduled for completion 
by 2016, customs duties on products fro m the region will be reduced progressively.24  However, under 
an early harvest programme for the least developed member states, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are to bring down their customs duties to between  zero and 5% by 1 January 2009 for products 
originating in such Member States.  The least de veloped member states are expected to benefit from 
additional measures under the special and differe ntial treatment accorded to them under the 
agreement.  Negotiations on the sens itive lists of products, rules of origin, technical assistance as well 
as a mechanism for compensation of revenue loss for least developed member states were completed at the end of 2005.
25 
32. At the Eleventh SAARC Summit (Kathmandu, 4- 6 January 2002), it was agreed to accelerate 
cooperation in the core areas of trade, finance, a nd investment via a process leading to a South Asian 
Economic Union (SAEU).  In January 2004, the SAARC was to study and make recommendations on this matter as well as on the concept of a South Asian Development Bank.  The establishment of a 
                                                     
 
22 GATT BISD 25S/109, 14 March 1978 and WTO document WT/COMTD/10, 25 April 1997. 
23 WTO document WT/COMTD/10, 25 April 1997. 
24 More information on the content of the SAFTA agreement is available online at:  http://www.saarc-
sec.org/main.php?id=12&t=2.1 [22 September 2005]. 
25 Under the Mechanism for Revenue Loss Compen sation to the LDCs, non-LDC members are to 
compensate LDCs for loss of customs revenue due to im plementation of the SAFTA.  The compensation will be 
determined by the Committee of Experts of all member states through an agreed formula.  The non-LDCs are to 
pay the entire amount, in U.S. dollar terms.  This mechanism is to remain in force for four years (the Maldives are to be compensated for one extra year).  Kumar (2005). Bangladesh WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 
 Page 29 
 
 
SAARC Poverty Alleviation Fund was decided at the Thirteenth SAARC Summit (Dhaka 
12-13 November 2005). 
Bangkok Agreement 
33. Since 1976, Bangladesh has been a member of  the Bangkok Agreement, which is aimed at 
achieving trade liberalization among the less devel oped members of the United Nations Economic and 
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.   China became memb er in April 2001.26 
34. Following China's accession, members initiated a revitalization process including a third 
round of negotiations from October 2001 to mid-2005 with the objective of deepening and widening 
concessions.  Bangladesh now extends tariff concessions  to China, India, the Republic of Korea, and 
Sri Lanka on 210 items (previously 129) at  the eight-digit HS level (Chapter III).27 
35. The Bangkok Agreement was revised recently  and renamed the Asia Pacific Trade 
Agreement (APTA);  it is to enter into force on 1 Ju ly 2006.  The APTA contains a consolidated list 
of tariff concessions (resulting from the three rounds  of trade negotiations) for members.  Under this 
agreement, China and Korea (Rep. of) grant concessi ons on 83 (eight-digit HS) and 139 (ten-digit HS) 
items, respectively. 
36. UNESCAP, which functions as the Secretariat for the Agreement, has, inter alia,  provided 
WTO training programmes to build up regional expe rtise on these issues, research, and undertake 
analytical studies on DDA issues and participation of LDCs and land-locked countries in the global 
economy through WTO-consistent regional trade arrangements. 
BIMST-EC 
37. In 1997, Bangladesh signed the BIMST-EC, an  economic cooperation agreement with India, 
Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand;  Bhutan and Nepal were admitted in February 2004.  The 
agreement is aimed at strengthening economic c ooperation in the region, particularly on trade, 
investment, transport, communications, tourism, technology, energy, and fisheries. 
38. A Free Trade Area (FTA) Agreement was conc luded on 7 February 2004, providing for the 
progressive establishment of a free trade area be tween July 2006 and June 2015, as well as the 
launching of negotiations for the elimination of di scrimination and the liberalization of trade in 
services in line with relevant WTO provisions;  Bangladesh signed it in June 2004.28  Negotiations on 
an FTA for goods are ongoing (May 2006), and thos e on services and investment commenced in 2005 
and are scheduled to conclude by 2007.  
(iii) Bilateral agreements 
39. Bangladesh has bilateral trade agreements with :  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bhutan, 
Bulgaria, People's Republic of China, the former Czechoslovakia, the Demo cratic People's Republic 
of Korea, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran,  Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Myanmar, Nepal, 
Pakistan, the Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Tha iland, Turkey, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, 
the Russian Federation, Viet Nam, and Zimbabwe.  Except for the agreements on transit trade with 
                                                      
26 UNESCAP online information.  Available at:  http://www.unescap.org/tid/Bkkagr.asp 
[22 September 2005]. 
27 UNESCAP (2005). 
28 BIMST-EC online information available at:  http://www.bimstec.org/docs/free/004.htm 
[22 September 2005];  and Ministry of Finance (2005a). WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
Page 30 
 
 
Bhutan and Nepal and on border trade with Myanmar,  all the agreements are general in nature and 
aimed at promoting bilateral trade. 
40. In May 2003, Bangladesh and Bhutan signed a revised five-year trade agreement with a 
provision for according bilateral tariff concessions.  The authorities indicate that no concessions have 
been made under this agreement except for th ose available under the SAPTA (Chapter III).29  
Bangladesh's major exports to Bhutan include RMGs , melamine products, and dry foods.  Exports of 
products from Bangladesh to Bhutan enjoy duty-free status. 
(iv) Other preferential arrangements 
41. Under the Generalized System of Preferences  (GSP), Bangladeshi products currently receive 
preferential market access from mo re than 13 Members and non-members of the WTO, including 
Australia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, the Eur opean Communities, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, 
Switzerland, the Russian Federation, and the United States.30  In 2001, Bangladesh was the second 
largest LDC exporter to the U.S. market (33% of total LDC imports), accounting for 1% of both 
products eligible for, and t hose receiving, GSP treatment.31  Bangladeshi exports accounted for 24% 
and 82% of the total amount of trade receiving GSP treatment in Japan and the 
European Communities.  Its main export items benefiting from GSP treatment were shrimps and 
prawns, footwear, leather products, hats, textiles and clothing.  The authorities are pursuing efforts to 
obtain duty-free access for textiles and cl othing items to the U.S. market.32  
42. As from 2001, Bangladesh's exports, in partic ular RMGs, have benefited from the EC's 
Everything But Arms Initiative.  During 2004/05, 42% of Bangladesh's exports to the EC benefited 
from such treatment; the authorities indicate that Ba ngladesh is not in a position to fully utilize these 
benefits due to stringent EC rules of origin.  Ne vertheless, by January 2006, Bangladesh had not yet 
taken advantage of the EC's offer (in 2000) of re gional cumulation and relaxation of value-addition 
criteria (Chapter III), which could expand further its exports under the scheme.   
43. Under Canada's Least De veloped Countries Market Access Initiative, as from 
31 December 2002, Bangladeshi exports have be en granted duty-free and quota-free privileges  
provided that they have been (a) manufactured or formed from inputs from any of the 48 eligible least 
developed countries, or (b) produced using inputs im ported from general preferential tariff beneficiary 
countries and the value added in the least de veloped exporting country is at least 25%.33  T h e  
authorities indicate that following the implementa tion of this Initiative, between 2002/03 and 2004/05 
Bangladesh's total exports to Canada rose by 40%  (130% increase of knit garments, 10% in woven 
garments). 
44. As from 1 January 2006, China has agreed to  grant duty-free access for 84 Bangladeshi 
export items, including, RMGs, textiles, frozen food, leather, jute and jute goods, soap and plastic 
ware.  Reportedly, Bangladesh considers this treatme nt as a move towards reducing its substantial and 
rapidly rising trade deficit with China.34 
                                                      
29 UNESCAP (2004). 
30 UNCTAD document UNCTAD/ITD/GSP/Rev.1, 1999. 
31 UNCTAD (2003). 
32 Since 2001, Bangladesh has been the LDC most affected by the exclusion of 20 (apparel) items from 
the United States GSP (US Trade & Development Act, 2000);  these products accounted for 70% of the 
non-covered LDCs exports to this market (UNCTAD, 2003).  
33 UNESCAP(2004). 
34 EIU (2006). Bangladesh WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 
 Page 31 
 
 
45. Bangladesh is a participant in the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing 
Countries (GSTP), and grants/benefits (from) tariff c oncessions to/from the 47 other signatories on a 
range of products;  Bangladesh's c oncessions consist of tariff cuts on its applied MFN rates ranging 
from 2.5% to 10% on imports of pistachios, saffr on, sesame seed, certain pharmaceuticals, hand tools, 
and certain scientific instruments (Chapter III).35  Bangladesh is among the 24 GSTP countries that 
participated in the second round of the GSTP negotiations36;  it participated in the third round 
(launched in May 2004) and is expected  to participate in the fourth round.37  The GSTP was notified 
to the GATT Committee on Trade and Developmen t pursuant to the Enabling Clause in 1989.38  
46. Bangladesh is a signatory to the 1991 Framew ork Agreement on Trade Preferential System 
among members of the Trade Preferential System - Organisation of Islamic Countries (TPS-OIC) 
(23 out of 57 OICs signed the agreement and as of December 2004, only 14 had ratified it).  Bangladesh signed the Agreement in 1997 and ratif ied it in January 2004.  A first round of 
negotiations for the exchange of tariff concessions  was launched in April 2004 and completed in 
March 2005.  Tariff concessions depending on the le vel of development were to be implemented 
progressively from 1 January 2006 to 1 January 20 11 (developing countries) or 2013 (least developed 
countries).  TPS-OIC rules of origin require 40%  value addition for no n-LDC and 30% for LDC 
members.  Under regional cumulation, the cont ent must be 60% for non-LDC and 50% for LDC 
exporting countries. 
47. Bangladesh also participates in the Devel oping Countries–8 (D-8) arrangement between 
eight Islamic countries;  the other members are Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.
39  Its objectives are to improve the position of developing countries in the world 
economy, diversify and create new opportunities in tr ade relations, enhance pa rticipation in decision-
making at the international level, and provide be tter standards of living.  The agenda of this 
arrangement provides for the reduction of tariffs, a nd elimination of para- and non-tariff barriers to 
boost trade among members of the group.  Bangladesh has participated in ongoing negotiations in this 
area, to be completed in April 2006. 
(6) TRADE DISPUTES AND CONSULTATIONS  
48. On 28 January 2004, in the first dispute involving a WTO LDC Member as a principal party, 
Bangladesh requested consultations with India concerning an anti-dumping measure imposed on 
imports of lead acid batteries from Bangladesh.  On 11 February 2004, the European Communities 
requested to join the consultations .  On 20 February 2006, the parti es informed the Dispute Settlement 
Body of a mutually satisfactory solution to the ma tter as the relevant measure had been terminated on 
4 January 2005.  Bangladesh does not appear to  have had any bilateral disputes outside the 
GATT/WTO since 1992. 
                                                      
35 The 48 member countries of the GSTP are:  Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, 
Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Demo cratic People's Republic of  Korea, Egypt, Ghana, 
Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq , Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, 
Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, (former) 
Yugoslavia, Zaire, and Zimbabwe. 
36 More information is available online at:  http://www.g77.org/gstp/ [6 October 2005]. 
37 UNCTAD document GSTP/C.P./XVII /3, 28 May 2004.  Available at:  http://www.unctad.org/en/ 
docs/ditcmisc200411_en.pdf [14 November 2005].  
38 GATT document L/6564/Add.1, 25 September 1989. 
39 More information is available online at:  http://www.d8net.org/default.asp [22 September 2005]. WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
Page 32 
 
 
(7) FOREIGN INVESTMENT REGIME  
49. Bangladesh's investment policies remain friendly to foreign investment.  However, despite a 
recent increase (Chapter I), foreign investment s eems to have lagged well behind its potential due to a 
poor performance/image compared with other count ries in the region on several aspects of the 
investment climate, in particular governance (polic y discontinuity, red tape, deficient legal system, 
political disturbances, unsatisfactory law and order),  infrastructure, labour quality, and trade-policy-
related impediments.40  Preferential access granted to Banglad esh's exports in major markets is 
considered an excellent attraction for foreign inv estors in Bangladesh.  Industrial Policy 2005 aims to 
promote FDI in order to bring about technology tr ansfer, efficiency and ma nagement development, 
and enhance marketing skills. 
50. The Foreign Private Investment (Promotion and Protection) Act, 1980 governs the legal 
framework for foreign investments in Bangladesh .  It provides for non-discriminatory treatment 
between local and foreign investments, protection of foreign investment from expropriation by the 
State41, and ensures repatriation of profits a nd the proceeds from sales of shares. 
51. Private sector investment continues to be enc ouraged in all activities in Bangladesh with the 
exception of the four industrial sectors reserved excl usively for public investment under the Industrial 
Policy 2005:  arms and ammunitions  and other military equipment and machinery;  nuclear power;  
security printing and minting;  and re-afforestation and mechanized extraction within the boundary of 
reserved forest.42  The same policy includes industries in wh ich foreign investment is explicitly 
discouraged:  banking, insurance, and other financ ial institutions, while the ready-made garments 
industry was withdrawn from the list. 
52. There is no limitation pertaining to equity particip ation by foreign investors;  investments can 
be undertaken independently or through joint ventur es with local or public participants.  All foreign 
investments must be registered with one of th e three sponsoring agencies:  the Bangladesh Export 
Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA);  the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation 
(BSCIC);  or the Board of Investment (BOI) for all other private investment.43  Registration with the 
sponsoring agency provides investors with a "one stop" service for infrastructure and institutional 
support services, including pre-investment counse lling, electricity, gas, and water and sewerage 
connection, and telecommunication facilities.  Th e BEPZA and BSCIC are also responsible for 
allocating industrial plots, entitlement to import items  on the restricted list, approving the payment of 
royalties, technical know-how or technical assistan ce fees, and appointing and remunerating foreign 
personnel (Chapter III). 
53. Foreign investors enjoy the same incentives as domestic entrepreneurs in respect of tax 
holidays, accelerated depreciation allowances, c oncessional duties on imported capital machinery and 
other measures, as contained in the Industrial Po licy 1999 and 2005 (Chapter III).  The establishment 
of convertibility of the taka for current account transactions, in April 1994, has facilitated foreign 
investment, by eliminating the requirement to obtain prior approval from the Bangladesh Bank on 
current account transactions (Chapters I and III). 
                                                      
40 IMF (2005c);  World Bank (2003);  and Planning Commission (2004). 
41 The Foreign Investment Act of 1980 forbids nationalization or expropriation without adequate 
compensation, and there have been no  instances of foreign property expr opriation since this Act was passed 
(USTC, 2003). 
42 Industrial Policy 2005.  Available at:  ht tp://www.fbcci-bd.org/HTML /POLICY/Industrial_Policy_ 
2005.htm [8 November 2005]. 
43 Investment by non-resident Bangladeshis is treated on par with foreign direct investment (Industrial 
Policy 1999 and 2005). Bangladesh WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 
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54. Bangladesh has bilateral agreements for avoida nce of double taxation with Belgium, Canada, 
China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Poland, Romania, Singapore, 
Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.44  Negotiations are ongoing 
with Australia, Cyprus, Finland, Indonesia, Iran,  Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, the 
Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Russian Federati on, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the 
United States, and Uzbekistan.45 
55. Treaties for the promotion and protection of inv estment have been concluded with Belgium, 
Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Italy,  Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Malaysia, Pakistan, 
Philippines, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Tha iland, the Netherlands, Turkey, the United Kingdom, 
and the United States.46  Negotiations are ongoing with India, Hungary, Oman, Moldova, 
Korea (Dem. People's Rep. of), Egypt, Austria, Mauritius, and Uzbekistan. 
56. In addition, Bangladesh is a signatory to MI GA (Multilateral Investment  Guarantee Agency), 
OPIC (Overseas Private Investment Corporation) of the United States and ICSID (International 
Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes). 
                                                      
44 Bangladesh Bank online information.  Availabl e at:  http://www.bangladesh-bank.org/investpr/ 
invesfac.html [15 November 2005]. 
45 Information provided by the authorities;  and The Independent , 29 November 2005.  Available at:  
http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/nov/29/29112005bs.htm#A1 [29 November 2005].  
46 Bangladesh Bank online information.  Availabl e at:  http://www.bangladesh-bank.org/investpr/ 
invesfac.html [15 November 2005]. WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
Page 34 
 
 
ANNEX II.1:  Trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) 
Overview 
1. Bangladesh benefited from the programme of th e old Integrated Framework (IF), and, in 
October 1997, prepared its trade re lated technical assistance needs.1  Bangladesh has not applied to be 
included in the revamped IF. 
2. The WTO undertook several TRTA activities to assist Bangladesh in 2005 and further action 
is envisaged for 2006.  Action is focused on deve loping human resources;  building institutional 
capacity;  support for the implementation of the WTO Agreements;  and support for participation in 
the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). 
3. The development of international trade in Banglad esh is also supported at the national and the 
regional level (SAPTA, BIMST- EC and the Bangkok Agreement, section 5(ii)) by several 
development partners, such as UN specialized ag encies (FAO, UNDP, UNIDO), the World Bank, the 
European Union, the British Government department  responsible for promoting development and the 
reduction of poverty (DFID), the United States Agency  for International Development (USAID), the 
Canadian International Development Agency (CI DA) and the Commonwealth Secretariat.  A number 
of activities are also carried out by non-governmental bodies. 
WTO action since 19992  
4. Between January 1999 and N ovember 2005, officials from Bangladesh took part in 
20 seminars, 46 workshops, 11 global seminars, and 23 regional training courses organized by the 
WTO Secretariat on several aspects of the multilateral trading system.3  In addition, there were 
five WTO technical missions to Dhaka, and three na tional workshops and five national seminars were 
held locally to cover:  implementation of the Cust oms Valuation Agreement, impact of the Agreement 
on Textiles and Clothing on LDC's trade and ec onomy, capacity-building on multilateral trade, 
investment and competition policy, Trade Policy Re view Mechanism, Integrated Data Base, WTO 
Rules, Special And Differential Treatment, and Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights 
Agreement.  Since 1999, six Bangladeshi official s have taken part in the trade policy courses 
organized by the WTO Institute for Trai ning and Technical Cooperation in Geneva. 
5. The WTO reference centre, which was established in the Ministry of Commerce in July 1998, 
was upgraded in March 2003. 
                                                      
1 Subsequently, the six multilateral agencies prepared a joint integrated response to this needs 
assessment.  The two documents are in tegrated in "Trade-related Technica l Assistance Projects for Bangladesh", 
containing a multi-year TRTA programme, which was used at a Round Table Meeting in January 2000 (WTO, 2000). 
2 This annex was prepared using, inter alia , information provided by the Bangladeshi authorities, and 
data available in the Technical Assistance Database (WTO Secretariat Institute of Training and Technical 
Co-operation). 
3 These activities covered:  trade and the envi ronment;  the Integrated Database;  the Doha 
Development Agenda;  sanitary and phytosanitary measures ;  technical barriers to trade;  the General Agreement 
on Trade in Services;  agriculture;  dispute settlement  practices and procedures;  market access;  customs 
valuation;  review of trade policies;  textiles;  telecommunications regulation;  rules implementation;  competition policy;  government procurement;  trade and i nvestment;  trade and compe tition;  trade facilitation;  
trade negotiating techniques;  capacity building;  trade mainstreaming;  trade-related intellectual property rights;  
regional trade agreements;  anti-dump ing, subsidies and countervailing measures;  notifications;  and the 
reference centre.  Bangladesh WT/TPR/S/168/Rev.1 
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WTO action plans for 2005 and 20064 
6. The WTO's 2005 and 2006 Technical Assistance and Training Plans provide for the  
participation of Bangladeshi officials in trad e policy courses in Geneva;  regional trade policy 
courses;  short trade policy courses on the Doha De velopment Agenda;  work shops or seminars on a 
number of issues at the regional or sub-regional leve l;  negotiating techniques;  meetings to promote 
awareness among parliamentarians;  and various  other activities at the WTO headquarters.  
Considerations for WTO action 
7. The authorities seek to strengthen actions to improve understanding of the multilateral trading 
system among Bangladeshi trainers and internationa l trade experts.  This consists mainly of 
reinforcing and continuing the training courses, trade policy courses, and technical meetings, and 
focusing them at a more national level.  As in the past, these activities should deal with subjects such 
as notifications, the implementation of the WTO Agreements, and the DDA. 
 
                                                      
4 WTO document WT/COMTD/W/ 133/Rev.2, 16 December 2004.