LDC Graduation: Bangladesh seeks support at WTO ministerial to defer
Bangladesh plans to use next week’s 14th World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference in Cameroon to seek international support for deferring its graduation from the group of least developed countries (LDCs), officials familiar with the matter said.
Last month, the government requested the UN Committee for Development Policy (UN CDP) to extend the preparatory period for LDC graduation until November 2029.
The committee reviewed Bangladesh’s request during its annual meeting in New York and established a process to evaluate the application.
“We will seek support from other countries at the WTO ministerial for the deferment of Bangladesh’s LDC graduation,” Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman told Media.
The country also intends to use the sidelines of the March 25–31 conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to pursue membership in the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), with the cooperation of other nations. Bangladesh has been attempting to join the Asia-Pacific free trade bloc for several years.
Other priorities on Bangladesh’s agenda include e-commerce, foreign direct investment, and fisheries subsidies.
On the latter, Rahman noted that Bangladesh has agreed to reduce support for fishing of rare and endangered species.
While the US reciprocal trade deal is expected to be widely discussed at the ministerial, Rahman said it is not part of Bangladesh’s formal agenda, though the country may participate if the issue arises.
WTO reform is also expected to dominate discussions, an area where Bangladesh may have limited involvement. Economists caution that obtaining backing for LDC deferment may not be straightforward.
According to a paper by Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, and Tanbin Alam Chowdhury, the WTO does not have a separate group for graduating LDCs.
Bangladesh will need to work within the broader LDC group, which generally favors graduation, as all current LDCs are expected to eventually transition out.
The paper suggests Bangladesh take the lead in pursuing graduating LDC agendas at the conference.
Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, chairman of Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID), said it is difficult to predict how much support Bangladesh can secure.
Gambia, serving as LDC coordinator, has proposed allowing LDCs and graduating LDCs with per capita income below $1,000 (1990 US dollar rates) to continue providing subsidies—under which Bangladesh would qualify.
Gambia has also recommended extending the TRIPS agreement for graduating LDCs, which would allow Bangladesh to preserve patent waivers on essential goods, including medicines.
However, Razzaque noted that concrete decisions may be hard to reach due to global trade fragmentation caused by US reciprocal tariffs and the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
“If all LDCs and graduating LDCs raise their voice collectively, a few positive outcomes may emerge, as WTO also maintains an agenda for LDCs,” he added.
