India raised barriers to exports, including high import duties on commodities such as fruits, rice and iron and the use of positive lists for trade with the northeastern states, during trade talks with Bangladesh last week, people familiar with the matter said.
Two-way trade was worth $12.36 billion in FY26, with India’s exports accounting for $10.58 billion.
The people said the Bangladesh side is unlikely to take steps to ease restrictions for Indian exports in view of the current deficit in trade.
Bangladesh called for removal of restrictions on its exports through Indian land ports and withdrawal of anti-dumping duties on jute products and PET film during the meeting of the joint working group on trade held in New Delhi during October 8-9, the people said on condition of anonymity. or a small list of items whose export isn’t allowed, trade with the northeastern states is done on the basis of a positive list, or a list specifying limited items whose exports are permitted While Bangladesh’s trade with states such as West Bengal is done on the basis of a negative list.
The people described the trade talks as positive and said the deliberations will help prepare for a planned meeting of the commerce secretaries of the two sides. During the talks, the Indian side raised the restrictions imposed by Bangladesh’s interim government on Indian cotton exports, the high import duties on Indian commodities such as fruits, rice, iron and steel, and Dhaka’s use of positive lists for trade through land border posts in the northeastern states, they said. The Indian list has for long sought the adoption of a negative list for the northeastern states to provide a level playing field, the people said.
