RANGPUR, June 16 (BSS): Speakers at a seminar Monday underlined the need for creating awareness among the local entrepreneurs about anti-dumping, subsidies & countervailing and safeguarding measures to guard local industries against unfair international trade.
Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) organised the seminar in its Board Room to create awareness among local entrepreneurs and businesspersons on "Roles and activities of Bangladesh Tariff Commission (BTC) in protecting interests of the local industries and trade remedies".
The BTC extended cooperation in arranging the seminar participated by the chambers leaders, importers, exporters, traders, business community leaders, bankers and journalists from the print, electronic and online media.
Secretary (In-charge) and Chairman of BTC Iqbal Khan Chowdhury attended the seminar as the chief guest with RCCI President Mostafa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu in the chair.
Senior Vice-president of RCCI Mostoba Hossain Ripon delivered welcome speech narrating the goals and objectives of the seminar and called upon the local entrepreneurs, industrialists and businesspersons for acquiring knowledge on the important issues related to trade remedies.
BTC Member (Joint Secretary) Afroza Parveen and Assistant Chief of BTC Mamun-Ur-Rashid Askari delivered presentations on overall activities of BTC and narrated responsibilities and performances of the Trade Policy Division, Trade Remedy Division and International Cooperation Division of BTC.
Deputy Chief of BTC Rama Dewan, its Assistant Chiefs Bella Hossain Mollah and Yusuf Ali Majumder and Resource Officer Mohinul Karim Khondker delivered presentations on subsidies & countervailing measures, anti-dumping measures, trade remedy measures and other related issues.
Later, the BTC chairman and other resource persons answered various questions asked by the local entrepreneurs, industrialists, businesspersons and journalists on these issues.
The BTC chairman said there will be no regulatory tariff on imported goods after July 2015 period when supplementary tariff will be imposed on only 147 import items as per rules and regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and globalisation under free trade agreement.
He said the entrepreneurs, industrialists and businesspersons should have knowledge now on trade remedies, anti-dumping and subsidies & countervailing measures in saving the local industries from unfair international trade under globalization and free trade system after July 2015.
The anti-dumping subsidies, countervailing measures and safeguard tariff on import goods would play vital role in saving the local industries from unfair international trade under globalised free trade system when supplementary tariff would be totally waved away, he said.
