US trade benefits for BD hinges on Doha round closure: WTO Chief

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 said on Tuesday, reports UNB.
"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 in the city. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Senior Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed were also present.
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.
"We've an important meeting also in December in Geneva on the Doha Round. We're expecting a good outcome from this meeting," he said.
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.
Azevedo, now on a two-day visit in the city, said the duty-free access of 97 per cent products to the developed countries from the least developed countries (LDCs) was established in 2005 declaration of Hong Kong and the target has to be met by the time the Doha Round is concluded.