Bangladesh unlikely to be de-listed from US GSP list
Friday, 12 October 2007
Bangladesh is unlikely to be de-listed from the US GSP list for tariff concessions against its exports to the US, said the government officials in the city Thursday, reports UNB.
"There is no possibility of de-listing… no reason to get panicked," Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed told a press briefing at the Commerce Ministry, after having a meeting with the officials who presented the country at the hearing of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on the issue on October 4 in Washington.
The USTR office had a hearing on AFL-CIO submission to de-list Bangladesh from the US GSP list on allegation of violation of labour laws and standards in the country's RMG and frozen fish factories.
"They have no intention to affect the industry and the economy of the country. Their main objective is to properly enforce the labour laws and internationally recognised standards," said the secretary.
He, however, recognised that the USTR hearing was very important and sensitive for Bangladesh as 29 per cent of the country's exports go to the US.
The meeting was apprised that the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organisation (AFL-CIO) have had information gap about the recent developments in Bangladesh, and they would now observe the situation in the country further.
"There is no possibility of de-listing… no reason to get panicked," Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed told a press briefing at the Commerce Ministry, after having a meeting with the officials who presented the country at the hearing of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on the issue on October 4 in Washington.
The USTR office had a hearing on AFL-CIO submission to de-list Bangladesh from the US GSP list on allegation of violation of labour laws and standards in the country's RMG and frozen fish factories.
"They have no intention to affect the industry and the economy of the country. Their main objective is to properly enforce the labour laws and internationally recognised standards," said the secretary.
He, however, recognised that the USTR hearing was very important and sensitive for Bangladesh as 29 per cent of the country's exports go to the US.
The meeting was apprised that the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organisation (AFL-CIO) have had information gap about the recent developments in Bangladesh, and they would now observe the situation in the country further.