US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena said Sunday that there will not be any other trade privileges in the US market for Bangladeshi products before reinstatement of generalised system of preferences (GSP) which was cancelled in June last year after Rana Plaza disaster.
"Most of our quota system or trade privileges depend on GSP. If GSP is not reinstated there will not be any other preferences," the ambassador said while replying to a question.
Ambassador Mozena was speaking at a country lecture titled "America's Partnership with Bangladesh: Stronger, Deeper and Broader than Ever" in the city.
The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the lecture.
Chairman of the BIISS Board of Governors ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad chaired the session while Director General Major General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed delivered the welcome speech.
Former ambassadors, academics, officials of the foreign ministry and military officials attended the lecture.
The US envoy said he is often asked about US suspension of Bangladesh's GSP privileges in the US and when those privileges will be reinstated. "In my view, this is not the issue. I believe the issue is that the country never again experiences another Rana Plaza, that it never again experiences another Tazreen Fashions fire," he said.
Mozena expressed the hope that Bangladesh will be on the road to transforming the apparel sector and bringing it to international standards in terms of fire safety, factory structure soundness and respect for workers' rights.
He believed that President Obama's decision to suspend Bangladesh's GSP privileges is an important driving force in effecting this transformation.
Replying to a question, Mozena said Bangladesh's growing engagement with major global players, India and China, is a good thing that brings gains for everyone.
He finds Bangladesh's relationship with China very constructive. "Deepening its partnership with China…that's good for Bangladesh, that's a good thing, everybody gains from it," he said.
He referred to China Major Bridge Engineering Company (CMBEC) which got the job of Padma Bridge construction and mentioned that the bridge will have enormous contribution to the GDP.
"It would increase 1.5 per cent of annual GDP growth of Bangladesh," he added.
Regarding India, he said of course Bangladesh is going to have good relations with India.
"There's no option except having good relations with India. I've visited so many districts on the border. I've seen the potential for enormous flow of trade with Indian seven sisters, which is really not happening now," he said.
He thinks Bangladesh should take the lead to push its apparel products into the remote Indian region.
Mozena said his mandate was to broaden, deepen and strengthen America's partnership with Bangladesh as the US thinks 'sky is the limit'.
"I still drag my mandate with me everywhere I go and I'll continue to work to fulfil that mandate …to the benefit of the people of both America and Bangladesh," he added.
The US diplomat said Bangladesh is a country of deep strategic importance and interest to US and that is why Bangladesh matters to US.
"Our partnership is in fact broader, deeper and stronger. That's very important for America and also for Bangladesh. I know it's good for the region," he added.
Mozena referred to US' concerns regarding respect for human rights, concerns about extrajudicial killings, abductions and disappearances.
"These are all documented in our Human Rights Report," he added. Regarding International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh he said it has to maintain international norms of laws.
Replying to a question whether the US changed its stance over fresh election in Bangladesh, Mozena referred to the previous statements after the January 5 elections to find the answer.
He mentioned that US has an important valued agenda in Bangladesh, as his country believes that a democratic Bangladesh, a Bangladesh that respects its citizens' human rights will be a stronger partner for them.
The US Ambassador said the third 'Partnership Dialogue' between Bangladesh and the US, to be held in Washington, will be most productive one between the two countries.
He said the third Partnership Dialogue is slated for late summer or early fall in Washington.
"Before that, the delegations, likely to be headed by the American Under Secretary for Political Affairs and the Bangladesh Foreign Secretary, will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the relationship, making course corrections, as necessary," he said adding that the assessment would identify the agenda of the dialogues.
No trade privileges before GSP revival, says Mozena
FE Report | Published: May 26, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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