Bangladesh Braces for EU–India FTA Pressures After LDC Graduation

An editorial warns that the EU–India Free Trade Agreement could undermine Bangladesh’s export performance as India gains duty-free access in key sectors like garments, textiles, and footwear. With Bangladesh set to graduate from LDC status in Nov 2026, modelling suggests garment exports could fall sharply—potentially billions—if MFN tariffs kick in and rivals secure ongoing duty-free access. The piece urges Bangladesh to aggressively secure post-graduation EU preferences (GSP+), improve rules of origin, and pursue wide-ranging reforms in energy, logistics, finance, and governance to boost competitiveness beyond preferential margins.