UK Supports Bangladesh with Launch of Trade Negotiation Pool Ahead of LDC Graduation

Dhaka – British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke joined Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi today, September 7, 2025, to launch the Bangladesh Trade Negotiation Pool, a key initiative to bolster the country’s trade negotiation capacity as it prepares for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026.

The initiative, supported by the United Kingdom through the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Transformative Economic Policy Programme (TEPP) and funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), aims to train a specialized pool of negotiators to secure trade agreements critical for Bangladesh’s economic growth in a competitive global market. The launch event, titled “Reflections & Way Forward: Building National Capabilities in Trade Negotiations,” was organized by the Ministry of Commerce at the InterContinental Dhaka hotel.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin emphasized the importance of institutionalizing trade negotiation capacity, stating, “As Bangladesh prepares to graduate from LDC status, the Trade Negotiation School will be vital in equipping our negotiators to secure the nation’s interests in a complex global trade landscape.” Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi highlighted the need for expertise and continuity, saying, “Trade negotiations demand specialist expertise, authority, and institutional change to succeed.” British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to Bangladesh’s economic progress, declaring, “The UK is proud to support Bangladesh in building a new generation of trade negotiators, and we remain firmly committed to supporting its journey toward a modern, inclusive economy.” The UK’s support includes facilitating duty-free market access for Bangladeshi goods under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which allows 99.8% of Bangladeshi products to enter the UK tariff-free until 2029, with 92% of product lines, including readymade garments, retaining zero-duty access thereafter.

The Trade Negotiation Pool is part of broader efforts to prepare Bangladesh for signing free trade agreements (FTAs), preferential trade agreements (PTAs), and economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with major trading partners, including ongoing negotiations with countries like Singapore, Korea, and Japan. This initiative underscores the UK’s modern economic partnership with Bangladesh, focusing on trade diversification, investment, and sustainable growth.