Bangladesh should start negotiations with the new US government to get back the generalised system of preferences (GSP) and duty-free market access for apparel items, garment exporters said yesterday.Proving all media reports wrong, Republican candidate Donald Trump has won the US presidential election, which the local garment exporters termed as the beginning of a new era not only for the US economy, but also for Bangladesh’s trade ties with the North American country.The US is the largest export destination for Bangladesh. “So, any major change in US politics and economy is important for us,” said Atiqul Islam, the immediate past president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.“I hope the new government will take some positive decisions to grow business with Bangladesh,” Islam told The Daily Star over phone.Bangladesh’s image is a big issue now, he said, adding that if the GSP is not given back, some other countries, where Bangladesh enjoys the duty benefit now, might be influenced by the US decision.After the Rana Plaza building collapse, Bangladesh improved its workplace safety and labour rights, as per recommendations by the US government, but the Obama Administration did not give back the GSP status, Islam said.MA Jabbar, managing director of DBL Group, a leading exporter, said, “I can see a positive change for us in the US markets.”Trump, in his speeches, said he will cancel the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. If the TPP does not go through, Bangladesh would be more competitive in the global apparel markets, Jabbar added.“I hope Bangladesh will get more preference in apparel business with the change in US policies.”Abdus Salam Murshedy, managing director of Envoy Group, said the US usually does not bring any major change in its foreign policy after an election.Currently, 97 percent of Bangladeshi products enjoy a duty benefit to the US markets, according to the fifth Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organisation held in Hong Kong in 2005.But, the US kept the country’s main export item — apparel — out of this package. As a result, Bangladeshi garments are 15.62 percent less competitive in the US markets.
