49 countries give duty-free access to BD products: Tofail

As many as 49 countries of the world have given duty-free access to Bangladeshi products, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said in Jatiya Sangsad on Sunday. The commerce minister said this in reply to a written query from Treasury bench member Begum Pinu Khan. Tofail said the 28 European Union countries, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland (except arms and military equipment), Japan (except arms, military equipment and some specific goods), Turkey (except arms, military equipment and readymade garments), Canada (except arms and military equipment, poultry and dairy products and egg) and Russia have allowed duty-free access of 71 products and Belarus 71 products under the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) to Bangladesh. The commerce minister said South Korea has given duty-free access of 4,820 products to Bangladesh under the Preferential Tariff for Least Developed Countries and China to 4,788 products under Duty Free Treatment Grants. He said Bangladesh has obtained duty-free access of all products except tobacco and drugs from India under the SAFTA, while other SAARC countries Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and the Maldives have given such facilities under the SAFTA and SAPTA. Tofail said Thailand has allowed duty-free access of 299 products under BIMSTEC, and Malaysia 297 products to Bangladesh. He said Bangladesh will get duty-free access of all products from Chile from January 1, 2015, according to BSS.