Bangladesh is likely to raise the issue of anti-dumping investigation India has launched on jute goods from Bangladesh at the upcoming commerce secretary level meeting, official sources said.
India would request Bangladesh to reduce the tariff structure for steel billets, milk and some fruit items while focusing on bringing down Bangladesh's sensitive list of products.
Officials said Bangladesh India, however, agreed on signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a modality of operation (MoO) deals on border haats during the day-long meeting scheduled to be held on November 16.
Bangladesh commerce ministry was working on finalising the issues of discussion to be tabled at the annual meeting, said an official.
"All the issues are still at discussion level. We have yet to finalise the agenda," said the official, preferring not to be named. "But there is possibility of having the issues for discussion."
Meanwhile, the commerce ministry had discussions with ministries concerned on the progress of issues discussed during the last meeting of the commerce secretaries held in Dhaka.
About India's anti-dumping investigation, officials said, Bangladesh would raise the issue as it has already affected the country's trade with India, which enjoys a substantial trade surplus with Bangladesh.
The country would point out the procedural gap in the investigation due to lack of knowledge by the companies against which the Indian side raised allegation of dumping jute goods.
Director General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) of India investigated the allegation of dumping jute goods by some Bangladeshi companies to India and imposed high duties, sources said.
Anti-dumping duties range from US$ 19 to $162 per tonne of jute yarn, $ 352 per tonne of hessian and, from $ 125 to $ 139 per tonne of jute bags.
The meeting of top trade officials would also discuss on upgradation of infrastructural facilities, including developing warehouse on the Indian side especially at Petrapole.
Bangladesh would request India to recognise the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) as it has already achieved accreditation in 161 parametres of 27 different products in chemical, food, cement, MS rod and textiles from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories of India. The issue remains pending since 2012.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka recently shared their observation related to trade barriers, including the tariff structure of Bangladesh.
It requested Bangladesh to drop 225 items from its sensitive list as per the commitment to reduce the list to 100 by 2020 under the agreement of South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
Bangladesh has sensitive lists of 987 products under the category of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and 993 under non-LDC category.
Sources said India has also raised the issue of providing duty-free access of different products, including orange, milk and milk products, pomegranate, and reducing the sensitive list under the SAFTA.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
