Duty-and quota-free market access and revival of the suspended generalised system of preferences (GSP) facility on the American market will be on top of Dhaka's agenda when Bangladesh and the United States sit in Washington for a dialogue.   Â
Officials gave such preview of the focal talks at the upcoming US-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue in Washington, DC, in the third week of this month,
Negotiators at the two-day dialogue, scheduled to start on October 21, will also discuss the implementation of the Bali declaration on international trade with specific reference to the benefits the least-developed countries (LDCs) are entitled to.
Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque will lead the Bangladesh delegation, to be drawn from different ministries concerned. Â
The ninth World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference, held in Bali, Indonesia, adopted some decisions on December 7, 2013 as regards global trade.
Those include preferential rules of origin for LDCs, operationalisation of the waiver concerning preferential treatment to services and service suppliers of LDCs, DF&QF (duty-free and quota-free) market access for LDCs, and monitoring mechanism on special and differential treatment.
Earlier, the second US-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue was held in Dhaka on May 26-27 last year.
US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy R. Sherman and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque co-chaired the meet that highlighted the robust and growing bilateral ties between the two countries.
The two sides had reaffirmed commitment to further broadening, deepening and strengthening the bilateral partnership.
A high official of the ministry of commerce (MoC) who will accompany the Bangladeshi delegation said that during the partnership dialogue, Bangladesh would request the US authorities go give back the GSP facility.
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) put on hold the GSP facility in July last year following the Rana Plaza collapse and Tazrin Fashions fire that claimed the lives of hundreds of workers.  Â
At the time of the suspension, the US government handed Dhaka 'Bangladesh Action Plan-2013' with 16 conditions to be fulfilled for reinstatement of GSP.
 "We have made a great progress on the action plan. We will seek revival of GSP facility and DF&QF market access to the US market," a joint secretary of the MoC, who will be accompanying the country's delegation, told the FE as they are preparing for the talks.
He noted that the country has made some important progress in terms of worker rights and worker safety.
Bangladesh has fulfilled all the 16 conditions as outlined in the Bangladesh Action Plan for getting back the GSP, he added.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com