Trade issues with India

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IN the present situation, India enjoys one sided huge advantage in its formal and informal trade with Bangladesh. With a free trade agreement(FTA) in place, this picture could change considerably with Bangladeshi export products reaching Indian markets in significantly increased number and volume, limiting to some extent the one-sided exploitation of advantage by India in the bilateral trade.
However, India must assure Bangladesh practically about not only signing but actually carrying out its commitments sincerely under an FTA arrangement. Previously, India declared some concessions in relation to the entry of some Bangladeshi products into their market. But the commitments were not practically honoured. India continues to apply non-tariff barriers in relation to these and other goods from Bangladesh. It even had wrongly applied the anti-dumping law against the export of limited quantities of lead acid batteries from Bangladesh which was later resolved after Bangladesh look the matter to WTO. Thus, it is very important that India should start honouring their commitments to create confidence.
Amin Ahmed Chowdhury
Baridhara
Dhaka