BD RMG duty-free access to US depends on Doha Round

The duty-free market access of Bangladesh’s readymade garment products to the US market depends on ‘successful completion’ of World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Doha Round, says its Director General Roberto Azevedo in the city Tuesday.
“My hope and expectation is we’ll be able to conclude the Doha Round as quickly as possible,” he told reporters at the Commerce Ministry.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed were present, according to a news agency.
Earlier in another function with top business leaders, Azevedo said he already held meetings with the developed countries and encouraged them for successful completion of the Doha Round negotiation.
Bangladesh now enjoys duty-free access of all its products to almost all developed countries and it enjoys such access for 97 per cent of its products to the US except apparel items, the major source of Bangladesh’s export earnings.
Earlier in another function, the WTO DG said the issue of duty-free market access is not ‘easy’ and ‘not straightforward’ but progress is possible.
Tofail Ahmed said his discussion with the WTO DG was successful and they would work closely with the WTO in multilateral trade negotiations.
Responding to a question, he said most of the developed countries gave Bangladesh duty-free market access and the rest of the countries are in the process to do so.