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Tofail appealed to US to allow duty-free market access |
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May 24, 2000
Dhaka, May 23 (UNB) - Industries Minister Tofail Ahmed has again appealed to the US government to allow duty-free market access, a long due commitment made by developed countries to compensate LDCs marginalized by trade liberalization.
He referred to recent decision of US Congress awarding duty-free quota-free access to some sub-Saharan and Caribbean countries, and said Bangladesh, being an LDC, also deserves the same treatment.
In response, US Ambassador John C Holzman described the perspectives of giving duty-free market access to African and Caribbean countries. He said Bangladesh should bear in mind that those countries would have to fulfil conditions of GSP standards that include labour standards.
He, however, gave the assurance that he would advocate to his government the issue of Bangladesh’s market access, but said Bangladesh has to make enough groundwork while its Ambassador in Washington will have to play a due role.
Holzman suggested exports be diversified and ports made competitive, and power and road infrastructures improved to bring in more investment.
The minister and the US envoy were speaking at the inauguration of a US catalog show at Dhaka Chamber auditorium this morning. Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and US Embassy in Dhaka jointly organised the “Infrastructure 2000-Made in USA Catalog Show,” representing 90 US companies. DCCI president Aftab ul Islam chaired the session.
The Industries Minister gave a brief account of Bangladesh’s leadership in winning duty-free market access for LDCs in developed countries since the first WTO ministerial meeting in Singapore in 1996. Giving duty-free market access was also a commitment of Uruguay Round Agreement, he reminded.
Tofail negated US Ambassador’s contention that Bangladesh had so far taken no steps it committed regarding labour rights in EPZs and clarified Bangladesh’s position. He said all parties, including the US Ambassador, agreed to a mid-level arrangement of forming Workers Welfare Association in EPZs.
He spoke of the government’s pro-private sector and pro-investment policies, saying that the government, since its inception, has identified private sector as the engine of growth and investment as its top-most priority. Private sector people are extensively consulted and represented in all trade policy matters, including framing of five-year export-import policy and industrial policy, he added.
“Our policy is to liberalise, not to control trade. We want to make things simple,” he said, admitting that some bureaucratic bottlenecks might still exist.
He cited Bangladesh’s investment policy as the most liberal one in the region and said Bangladesh is one of the three countries in Asia that allows 100 per cent foreign equity.
Referring to Bangladesh-US business relations, Tofail said the present government, soon after assuming power in June 1996, allowed American Chamber to function here. The issue was pending for one or two years, he said. The present government also patronised the formation of US-Bangladesh Business Council in 1998, he added.
Sounding a high optimism about Bangladesh’s bright future, Tofail said Bangladesh’s per capita income will be US$ 2000 by the year 2020, counted on the basis of natural resources. While commenting on US envoy’s lobbying for gas exports he hoped that Bangladesh would be in a position to export gas after fulfilling domestic requirement.
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