WTO and Trade Issues

Dhaka, 29 August 2024: In a media workshop in Dhaka today civil society and economic journalists expressed their concern about the data discrepancy of Bangladesh before the country starts negotiations in WTO. EquityBD and the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) jointly organised the Media workshop titled “WTO Trade Rules and...

Abu Dhabi 28 February 2024: Non-governmental representatives participating in the third day of the MC13 of WTO in Abu Dhabi condemned the disruption of their normal activities in the name of security. Three of the NGO representatives were detained for various allegations in the first two days. They were detained...

Tonight (25 February 2024), a sub-group of WTO Members will celebrate the conclusion of a break-away agreement on investment facilitation and try to secure its adoption as a plurilateral agreement at this week’s 13th ministerial conference.  That can only be done by consensus. The convenors – South Korea and Chile,...

Dhaka, 18 February 2024: Equity and Justice Working Group (EquityBD), a national platform of CSO and NGOs in Bangladesh, organised a seminar in Dhaka today to discuss the possible position of the Bangladesh Government delegation on the eve of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization. The...

Dhaka, July 20, 2023. Under the TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization, Bangladesh must grant product patents to multinational companies who will then hold monopoly rights over the production, distribution and pricing of critical medicines and push out generic production. Until 2026, and maybe for a few years after,...

7th August 2021, EquityBD, has submitted its comments to LDC-5 Co-Chairs on zero draft Doha Program of Action. LDC-5 conference will be held in Doha in January 2022. Following the event, EquityBD drafted a position paper for LDCs issues. Please find the zero draft Doha Program of Action and EquityBD position. ...

Dhaka, 05 August 2021. As Bangladesh is graduating from LDC in 2024, the country will need to comply with the World Trade Organization (WTO) mandated Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. As LDC Bangladesh is enjoying exemption from the patent rights and conditions set by the TRIPs. After graduation from...

On 20th May COAST Executive Director and EquityBD Chief Moderator Rezaul Karim Chowdhury as a member of LDC Watch presented climate change focus for preparation of LDC 5 / Doha Plan of Action in front of two Co-Chair Ambassador Rabab Fatim and Ambassador Bob Rae. Please find the note here.

Dhaka, 17 Feb 2018: In a national seminar on “LDC Graduation and Sustainable Development Approach Bangladesh Perspective” held at CIRDAP auditorium Dhaka, civil societies recommended government to take preparation sustainable graduating from LDCs (Least Development Countries). They also urged to adopt appropriate measures in tackling the current inequality in this...

NGO participants from Bangladesh were thankful to the Govt Delegation for not signing in the e-commerce rules though there was big push from the proponents. A group of 70 countries, chaired by Australia, Japan and Singapore, agreed today to start exploratory work toward future negotiations on electronic commerce rules. The...