The Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Tuesday emphasized the importance of addressing and registering issues that obstruct Bangladesh’s business opportunities saying that the rise of protectionist and populist regimes worldwide was creating additional barriers to trade.

He said that Bangladesh must strengthen the capacity of various business organizations and human resources to fully capitalize on the benefits of LDC graduation.

As Bangladesh progresses towards becoming a developing nation, acquiring soft skills is crucial for sustaining and expanding trade volumes, Bashir Uddin said.

The Commerce Adviser made this statement during the inauguration of the three-day National Workshop on WTO Dispute Settlement at a city hotel.

The event was presided over by Commerce Secretary Md Selim Uddin, with Jorge Castro, Director of the WTO Legal Affairs Division, delivering a speech. Additional Secretary of the WTO Wing, Ministry of Commerce, Nazneen Kawshar Chowdhury, offered the welcome remarks.

The workshop, jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce and the WTO, is supported by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and the FBCCI.

Bashir also indicated that Bangladesh is on track to graduate from the LDC status in November 2026.

Since Bangladesh is graduating, Bashir said that on the front of country’s external trade, many issues would evolve while exporting something to the trade partners.

‘Our exports are not sufficiently diversified, as our export basket heavily relies on a single product,’ the Commerce Adviser remarked.

He also noted that the rise of protectionist and populist regimes globally would create more barriers to trade.

In this context, the three-day session presents a valuable opportunity for all participants to harness knowledge and navigate these emerging challenges more effectively.

‘There is a critical need to functionally understand and master the process of navigating these challenges. We must learn how to effectively address and register the issues and complaints that arise, particularly regarding the non-tariff barriers our export industry faces,’ commerce adviser said.

Even minor obstacles, often created by competing or neighbouring countries, can have a significant impact, making it crucial to address these issues and advocate for the country’s interests on the global stage, he mentioned.

He said after graduation, Bangladesh would engage in bilateral and multilateral negotiations to sign Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The workshop focuses on the key characteristics of the WTO dispute settlement system, its main actors, and the basic principles of GATT. It also covers the WTO agreements, decision-making processes, and dispute-related issues.

The adviser expressed hope that participants would gain a deeper understanding of the role of the WTO dispute settlement system in the multilateral trading framework, the key stages of dispute settlement procedures, and the roles of complainants, respondents, and third parties in WTO disputes.

As a WTO member, he emphasized Bangladesh’s interest in maintaining the dispute settlement system as a central element of the multilateral trading system, ensuring security and predictability.

This is especially crucial for developing countries, including LDCs, which benefit from stability, consistency, and predictability in trade.

Following the workshop, the adviser stated that participants would have a clearer understanding of the underlying structures, procedures, and application of rules in the WTO dispute settlement process.