Bangladesh

Bangladesh benefits from the "Everything but Arms" arrangement of GSP for least developed countries (LDC's). With a per-capita income of $ 2.820 in 2022, Bangladesh is classified as a lower-middle income country. Since March 2017, Bangladesh is part of the European Commission's "enhanced engagement", which further incentivises and facilitates beneficiary country's progress with regard to the 15 core international conventions covered in the GSP regulation. The enhanced engagement includes inter alia a close dialogue between public officials, the presentation of a "list of issues" to which beneficiaries are asked to respond and monitoring missions by the European Commission.

What is the EBA?

The “Everything but Arms”(EBA) scheme is a permanent arrangement covering Least Developed Countries (LDC’s) as classified by the United Nations. This arrangement enables duty-free and quota-free access for all products (7200 products in total) originating in LDC’s except for arms and ammunition. Different from the Standard GSP and GSP+, LDC’s are not excluded from the scheme if they benefit from other preferential arrangements. Within the EBA, the EU has intensified its engagement with three EBA beneficiaries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar. This enhanced engagement includes a systematic approach to address shortcomings in fundamental human rights and labour standards. The enhanced engagement countries account for about 87.3% of preferential imports from all EBA beneficiaries.

Bangladesh flag

At a glance: EBA beneficiaries' preferential imports to the EU

group

171,19 M

Population

account_balance
Parliamentary Republic

Government

trending_up

7.10%

GDP Growth

equalizer

7.90%

Inflation

money

$ 460,20 B

GDP

40 ^

Freedomhouse index

5 -

ITUC Global Rights Index

23.1 ^

Environmental Performance Index

Facts about Bangladesh's economy

Garment Industry

The garment industry is by far the most important industry for Bangladesh, and it contributes about 80% to the country's total export earnings. This makes Bangladesh the world's second largest exporter of garments. in Since 2013, the annual revenue in this sector increased by about 79% to $34 billion annually.

Export Products

Apparel and clothing articles, footwear and other textile articles dominate Bangladesh's export sector. These products are followed by fish products, articles made of leather, headgear and hides and skins.

Trade Partners

Next to the EU, China, India, and the US are important trading partners for Bangladesh. China and India are the most important sources of imports, accounting for a share of 41%. The EU accounts for over 45% of the exports followed by the US and the UK.

Economic Structure

Although the agricultural sector only contributes about 12% to the GDP, it employs the majority of the workforce. Rice remains the most important agricultural product, together with jute and tea. Economic growth was mainly driven by the industrial sector (33.32 %), of which the clothing and garment industry is the most important pillar. Other manufacturing activities include the production of fertilizer, paper, sugar, glass, and aluminium works. Services contribute 51.3% to the GDP rendering it the most important sector for the economy of Bangladesh.

Usage of EBA Preferences

Bangladesh is by far the most important beneficiary from the EBA arrangement. About 97% of Bangladesh's total exports make use of the duty suspensions granted under the EBA.

Trade with the EU

Total trade with the EU amounted to € 18,569 2021. With a share of 16.7%, the EU is Bangladesh's most important trading partner. Over 38.3% of Bangladesh's exports go to the European market.

Bangladesh and the EU (2022)

Imports from Bangladesh by product section

Imports from Bangladesh over time (in € m)

BANGLADESH AND THE EU’s GSP

Economic Impact

Bangladesh is the third largest economy in Southeast Asia, after India and Pakistan. In the last ten years, Bangladesh's economy recorded respectable growth rates, which is particularly significant given the high dependency on exports and the resulting vulnerability to fluctuations on international markets. Between 2020-2022, EU imports from Bangladesh have increased by almost 80%. Considering that about 95% of overall imports are eligible for duty suspensions under the EBA scheme, it has directly contributed to Bangladesh's economic growth and development. Bangladesh is scheduled to graduate from LDC status in 2026.

100%

Almost the entire exports of Bangladesh to the European market are eligible for duty suspensions granted by the EBA.

95.10%

Bangladesh makes use of the duty suspension under the EBA arrangement for about 95% of its eligible EU exports.

Preference utilisation and export diversification

Bangladesh's imports to the EU

Preference Utilisation vs. total eligible imports

Bangladesh's preference utilisation rate, which indicates the ratio of eligible to preferential imports, has been consistently high over the past years with an average of over 95%. Likewise, eligible imports increased constantly over time. Looking at individual product sections, Bangladesh makes good use of the duty suspensions granted under the EBA scheme for its dominant import groups like apparel, footwear, and fish products. Product sections which could make better use of the preferential market access include textiles, instruments, and chemicals.

The largest product sections under EBA

EU imports from Bangladesh remain heavily concentrated on apparel, clothing and textile imports, which account for almost 93% of all preferential imports under GSP. The value of imports of tobacco in 2022 is over 3 times bigger than in 2020, and all imports are eligible for preferential rates, of which the country makes use almost 100%. In 2022 this product category climbed in the ranking and is now among the top 5. The government makes an effort to further diversify the economy and has identified a number of priority sectors. In 2022, 16 product categories experienced a utilisation rate of over 90%.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The EU has started the "enhanced engagement" with Bangladesh due to concerns with the country's overall adherence to human and labour rights as covered by the 15 core conventions included in the GSP regulation. The unilateral trade preferences under the GSP are conditional on the adherence to and the respect of fundamental human and labour rights as specified in the 15 fundamental conventions included in the GSP regulation. The EU is concerned about a number of human rights related developments in Bangladesh which motivate the uptake of the "enhanced engagement". These developments include shrinking space for civil society actors, freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture, as well as discrimination and violence against ethnic and religious minorities. The EU and Bangladesh address human rights related issues in the Subgroup on Human Rights and Good Governance, which is part of the EU-Bangladesh Cooperation Agreement. The European Commission has asked the government of Bangladesh to improve the freedom of expression and the space for civil society and to better investigate cases of alleged torture, ill treatment, extra judicial killings, and enforced disappearances. With regards to labour rights, the engagement builds on the "Sustainability Compact", an initiative between the EU, the US, Canada, Bangladesh and the ILO which focusses on strengthening the freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and the promotion of responsible business conduct. With the "enhanced engagement" the European Commission expects further progress in aligning domestic policies with the fundamental ILO conventions. More particularly, the engagement focusses on the removal of legal obstacles to the right to establish trade unions, the elimination of anti-union discrimination, the facilitation of the trade union registration process, the strengthening of the labour inspectorate, as well as the elimination of forced and child labour. The government has already stepped up its engagement and adopted amendments to its labour law in order to strengthen the freedom of association and collective bargaining. The situation relating to the registration and functioning of the trade unions as well as the labour inspectorate still remains an area of concern. Additionally, the situation related to child labour remains concerning, despite a number of legal amendments.

Core international conventions on human rights and labour standards

Ratified

  • Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)
  • International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969)
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976)
  • International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (1976)
  • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1981)
  • Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1987)
  • Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990)
  • Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, No 29 (1930)
  • Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, No 87 (1948)
  • Convention concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively, No 98 (1949)
  • Convention concerning Equal Remuneration of Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value, No 100 (1951)
  • Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour, No 105 (1957)
  • Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, No 111 (1958)
  • Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, No 182 (1999)

Not Ratified

  • Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, No 138 (1973)

Additional Conventions

  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973)
  • Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987)
  • Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989)
  • Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
  • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)
  • Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000)
  • Stockholm Convention on persistent Organic Pollutants (2001)
  • Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1998)
  • United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
  • United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971)
  • United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
  • United Nations Convention against Corruption (2004)

EU-Bangladesh Bilateral Development Assistance

DG INTPA

Access all info about EU-Bangladesh relations on the International Partnerships website: https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/countries/bangladesh_en

Opportunities in Bangladesh

  • Strong growth in the private sector, with an average above 6% in recent years
  • Bangladesh has one of the fastest growth rates in the world, with a rate of 7.9% in 2019, and can look back on a stable economic performance
  • Large domestic market
  • Highly cost-efficient production opportunities
  • Strategic location in close proximity to major regional markets including India, China and other ASEAN nations

Contact points