The Preferential Trade Agreement between Nepal and Bangladesh is unlikely to be signed soon as the two countries are yet to form a consensus on fixing other duties and charges (ODC), reported The Kathmandu Post. 

Nepal has been demanding the abolition of the ODC, a demand Bangladesh refused to accept so far. However, it said they are open to negotiating the ODC. Nepali officials made it clear that they would not allow duty-free access to Bangladesh goods until it drops the ODC charges to zero from Nepali goods. 

Nepal, which has limited goods to export, has a trade deficit with Bangladesh. Bangladesh exports ten times in value than what it imports from Nepal. 

“The Bangladeshi side has said that it is flexible regarding other duties or charges, and is ready to discuss the subject. But we are for eliminating the charges completely,” Prakash Dahal, joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post.

"Concluding the pact without any benefit is pointless. Nepal’s exports to Bangladesh are small, and we have fewer exportable products too,” he said. “The concluding the deal even at 5 percent ODC isn’t possible.”