Govt removing trade barriers with EU: commerce minister

The government has been easing business regulations by removing non-tariff barriers, mainly to facilitate greater exports and imports between Bangladesh and the European Union (EU), Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said today.

The minister made the remarks at a meeting with EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller at the minister’s office in the secretariat in Dhaka.

The EU is one of Bangladesh’s most important trading partners, and Bangladesh is keen to further strengthen business ties with the bloc, which is the country’s largest export destination.

The government has started policy and institutional reforms to ease business regulations in order to attract more foreign direct investment and increase export and import activities.

For instance, the government has sought public opinions through its website as it plans to finalise the import policy.

The minister also expressed hope that the existing trade barriers between Bangladesh and the EU could be resolved through discussions between the two sides, according to a commerce ministry press release.

Miller said the EU is also interested in expanding bilateral trade with Bangladesh.

He also praised Bangladesh’s initiatives to remove trade barriers and improve the business environment.