Pakistan, July 21 -- Bangladesh is poised to graduate from its status as a least-developed country (LDC), creating a "post-LDC dilemma" for its trade due to the expiration of duty-free, quota-free (DFQF) access to approximately 95% of its products in South Korea. Both nations are eager to sign an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that will offer tariff cuts in a wide range of areas, including goods, services, investment, and labor, helping to overcome post-LDC challenges. However, Bangladesh must be strategic in safeguarding its interests.

According to the notes of Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, this EPA covers duty rationalization, investment, regional value addition, trade in services, and other components, presenting it as a "...