Bangladesh has urged the USA for granting duty-free quota free (DFQF) market access to Bangladeshi products as per the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration and Bali package adopted in Bali WTO Ministerial, reports UNB. Bangladesh also voiced its concern over TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) that might adversely impact Bangladesh’s export to the USA and some other TPP countries. Bangladesh raised the issues in the second annual council meeting of the Bangladesh-US Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) held on Monday at the USTR office in Washington DC. The Bangladesh delegation, led by Heda-yetullah Al Mamoon, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Commerce was consisted of Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque, Labour & Employment Secretary Mikail Shiper and other officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign affairs and Bangladesh Embassy, WashingtonDC. The US side was headed by Michel Delany, Assistant US Trade Representative, according to a message received here on Tuesday. The meeting discussed a wide range of issues, including progress on workers’ rights, Sustainability Compact and GSP Action Plan, Investment Climate in Bangladesh, Transformation of Bangladesh, Market Access and Responsible Business Conduct, Istanbul Programme of Action, Bali Package Implementation, Fair Pricing, TPP, Blue Economy, Infrastructure, etc . During the meeting, Bangladesh side mentioned about the progress achieved by Bangladesh in terms of workers’ rights, Sustainability Compact and GSP Action Plan. Making a power-point presentation, the Bangladesh side delineated the huge transformation Bangladesh has undergone over the years making it a coveted destination for foreign investment, highlighted the congenial investment environment in Bangladesh underpinned by macroeconomic stability, increasing purchasing power, burgeoning middle class, fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for FDI and establishment of Special Economic Zones. The US side appreciated the progress so far made by Bangladesh on Sustainability Compact and GSP Plan of Action. They also recognised the huge potentials Bangladesh possess, and expressed optimism that US investors will come forward to explore the potentials. The meeting decided to hold the next meeting of Ticfa in Dhaka at a convenient time next year. On November 25, 2013, Bangladesh and the United States signed Ticfa to establish an annual forum to identify and address obstacles to increasing bilateral trade and investment. The first Ticfa meeting was held in Dhaka in 2014.
