The textile and clothing sector in five Asian least developed countries (LDCs) — Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Nepal — makes heavy use of trade preferences for LDCs and is one of the main sectors likely to be impacted by graduation from the category. With Bangladesh, Lao PDR and Nepal set to leave the LDC category in 2026 and Cambodia and Myanmar being considered for possible graduation in the following years, the textile and clothing sector in these countries needs to prepare for a smooth transition.

This inter-agency report studies different aspects of LDC graduation and the textile and clothing sector in Asian graduating LDCs. Research on trade aspects was led by the World Trade Organization (WTO), on global value chains by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), on the firm-level perspective by the International Trade Centre (ITC), including country studies led by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) Secretariat in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

Synthesis report

Chapter I—Trade aspects of LDC graduation and the textile and clothing sector (WTO)
Chapter II—Implications of LDC graduation on global value chains for textiles and clothing (UNCTAD) - Forthcoming
Chapter III—Firm-level analysis (ITC and DESA) - Forthcoming

Bangladesh country study

Lao PDR country study