EU urges Bangladesh to boost imports as pressure mounts to rebalance trade
European diplomats and business leaders have urged Bangladesh to increase its imports from the European Union, signalling a firmer push from Brussels to address what they describe as an increasingly unsustainable trade imbalance. The call comes as Dhaka has recently assured the United States that it will work to narrow its own trade gap with Washington under a reciprocal tariff framework.
Speaking at a high-level discussion on the investment climate hosted by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) in Dhaka, EU Ambassador Michael Miller said the bloc wanted “teamwork, a level playing field and impartial implementation” as both sides pursue a more comprehensive investment partnership.
Although the EU is Bangladesh’s largest export market, trade remains heavily skewed. According to new European Commission data, overall goods trade reached US $ 26 billion in 2024, but the EU posted a US $ 20 billion deficit. Garments and textiles made up roughly 94% of EU imports from Bangladesh, while EU exports to Bangladesh were concentrated in machinery, appliances and chemicals.
During the meeting, envoys from the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Sweden, France and Germany reiterated longstanding concerns over regulatory delays, inconsistent enforcement, cumbersome import procedures and policy unpredictability. German Acting Ambassador Anja Kersten stressed that investors need consistent implementation of existing reforms rather than new promises.
Bangladeshi officials highlighted steps being taken to address these concerns. Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman pointed to major modernisation projects, including the Bay Terminal and Laldia facility, which aim to expand capacity, cut vessel turnaround times and digitise port operations. BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury cited structural reforms, investor grievance mechanisms and annual ‘result cards’, and expressed interest in attracting more EU companies to establish regional centres in Bangladesh.
For the country’s export-driven textile and apparel industry, the EU’s request carries strategic weight. The bloc is not only Bangladesh’s top market but also among the strictest in its expectations on sustainability, labour rights, governance and ethical business standards.
