Govt ready for legal battle against US NGO's petition for GSP withdrawal
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
FE Report
The government has been preparing itself for a legal battle in the United States (US) against a petition filed by a US non-government organisation (NGO) for withdrawal of the generalised system of preference (GSP) facility from Bangladesh claiming violation of labour rights in the country.
The NGO - American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO) - has filed the petition to the United States Trade Representatives (USTR).
It alleged that the Bangladeshi ready-made garments (RMG) units and frozen food exporters, both within and outside the export processing zones (EPZs), have been violating labour rights.
The Ministry of Commerce will send a pre-briefing paper to Merideth Sandler, executive director of GSP programme of USTR, by September 21 explaining Bangladesh's position in the allegation.
The USTR has arranged a public hearing of the complaints against Bangladesh government on October 4. A delegation of Bangladesh, comprising the leading exporters and the government high-ups, will fly for the US soon to attend the hearing on the day.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), Bangladesh Garment Manu-facturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) have submitted their position papers in the Ministry for submitting it to the USTR.
Sources said, export of Bangladeshi products to the US market might face a setback following the petition, lodged by the NGO.
The government has been preparing itself for a legal battle in the United States (US) against a petition filed by a US non-government organisation (NGO) for withdrawal of the generalised system of preference (GSP) facility from Bangladesh claiming violation of labour rights in the country.
The NGO - American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO) - has filed the petition to the United States Trade Representatives (USTR).
It alleged that the Bangladeshi ready-made garments (RMG) units and frozen food exporters, both within and outside the export processing zones (EPZs), have been violating labour rights.
The Ministry of Commerce will send a pre-briefing paper to Merideth Sandler, executive director of GSP programme of USTR, by September 21 explaining Bangladesh's position in the allegation.
The USTR has arranged a public hearing of the complaints against Bangladesh government on October 4. A delegation of Bangladesh, comprising the leading exporters and the government high-ups, will fly for the US soon to attend the hearing on the day.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), Bangladesh Garment Manu-facturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) have submitted their position papers in the Ministry for submitting it to the USTR.
Sources said, export of Bangladeshi products to the US market might face a setback following the petition, lodged by the NGO.