While the US Congress consistently advocates for improved labour conditions in Bangladesh, it always shies away from offering any tariff concession to Bangladesh apparels, said Bangladesh envoy Akramul Qader to Washington, reports UNB.
"There's no doubt that it would have given much needed financial rooms for the industries to improve workers' safety and rights in Bangladesh if the US congress could have offered duty-free access or alternative tariff concessions," said Akramul Qader.
In 2013, Bangladesh exported $4.90 billion of RMG to the US market and paid tariffs of almost $820 million, he said adding that Bangladeshi garments enter the US market after paying an exceptionally high tariff ranging from 8.0 per cent to 32 per cent.
Mr Qader made the remarks while addressing Rumi Forum in Washington DC Thursday, said a Foreign Ministry media release Friday.
The discussion was moderated by Dr Alyssa Ayres, Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Bureau.
The envoy said the US is a major destination for products made in Bangladesh, receiving nearly a fourth of Bangladesh's total exports.
Apart from providing low-cost fashions and apparel solutions to the US consumers, Bangladesh's RMG is also a source of huge revenue for the US government.
The envoy also spoke on the socioeconomic development, labour safety, labour rights, 10th parliamentary elections, International Crimes Tribunal and Bangladesh-US trade and economic relations.
Mr Qader said Bangladesh's RMG sector is still recovering from the shocks caused by the Rana Plaza building collapse and the fire in the Tazreen factory. "But the US government's response of suspending GSP for Bangladesh has not helped address the underlying issues beneath the deadly incidents rather put the workforce into jeopardy."
Replying to a question on the labour safety and rights, the Ambassador focused on the steps taken by the government on the labour safety and labour rights in Bangladesh.
Responding to a question, he said the present government is steadfast to preserve the human rights and freedom of media in the country.
The National Human Rights Commission is working freely and independently; any violation of human rights is being dealt with sternly, so that the perpetrators cannot get impunity from appropriate punishment, he added.
Replying to a question on the 10th parliamentary elections, he said the 10th national election was held under an unprecedented commitment of the government to uphold the constitutional obligation and strengthen the democratic process in the country.
The Bangladesh Ambassador commended BNP's decision to cease violence and participate in the subsequent Upazila elections, which are proofs the credibility of the existing election mechanism in the country.
Encouraged by a resilient economy, he said, Bangladesh could choose to take courageous decisions like building Padma multipurpose bridge with only domestic finance.
He also said Bangladesh's economic relations with foreign countries have been changed from predominantly aid-recipient to a trade one.
