Clothing manufacturer in Bangladesh for European brands

Duty: Everything But Arms, and what happens in 2029

Everything But Arms removes tariffs and quotas on all goods except arms from Least Developed Countries, and Bangladeshi garments use it to enter the EU duty-free. Exporters registered in the EU’s REX system state origin on the commercial documents, and under EBA a garment can qualify when it is cut and sewn from imported fabric.

Bangladesh graduates from LDC status on 24 November 2026. EBA continues through a three-year transition to November 2029. After that, Bangladesh would need GSP+ or a trade agreement to keep reduced duties, and GSP+ has stricter origin rules for garments and import-share thresholds that Bangladesh currently exceeds. Without either, garments would pay the standard EU rates of 9–12%.

Labelling your garments for the EU

Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 requires textile products sold in the EU to show fibre composition using the harmonised fibre names, in the language of the country where they are sold. Care labelling is not harmonised across the EU, but it is expected by retailers and required in practice by most marketplaces.

• Fibre composition using EU fibre names, in the local language
• Your name and contact details as the EU importer or brand (GPSR)
• A batch, style or other identifier for traceability (GPSR)
• Care instructions to your retailer’s specification

Product safety and chemicals

Since 13 December 2024 the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 has applied to clothing: products must be safe, identifiable and traceable, and the economic operator in the EU must be named on the product or packaging. Chemicals are restricted under REACH Annex XVII, for example certain azo dyes and nickel in metal trims. For childrenswear, buyers usually require cord and drawstring safety to EN 14682.

Shipping and landed cost

Most EU orders ship by sea from Chattogram to northern European ports, with air freight for urgent drops. Ask for FOB and DDP quotes side by side: FOB suits brands with a forwarder, while DDP gives smaller brands one landed price.