Dhaka, Dec. 19 -- Second thoughts on gains from trade deal with an economic biggie show Bangladesh's exports to Japan are destined to decline significantly for privilege contraction once the partnership pact takes effect shortly.

Insights find that after the bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) enters into force, nearly 20 per cent of Bangladesh's products will fall out of the purview of duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) market-access privilege.

The deal is scheduled to be signed by the last week of this month, as expected by the two sides earlier. Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin is scheduled to have talks with foreign minister of Japan over telephone Monday on EPA signing and inform the media about the deal-making progress.

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