Bangladeshi Delegation off to USA for duty-free access bill

The bill known as the New Partnership for Trade and Development Act (NPTDA) 2009 is geared toward harmonising trade and US development efforts.

The bill aims to put more fairness in US preference programmes by creating a new model that extends duty-free, quota-free preferences, as well as encouraging trade and capacity building among least developed countries (LDCs).

The bill will simplify and extend the generalised system of preferences (GSP) by instituting a new single rule of origin and reviewing the current GSP statutory exclusions that were first established in 1974.

Acting Commerce Secretary Md Golam Hossain is leading the Bangladesh delegation.

During their stay until Thursday, the delegates will meet Congressman Jim McDermott, acting president of Cotton Council International, senior staffs of Senate Finance Committee and Wage and Means Committee.

The team is also scheduled to meet officials at the US Trade Representative office, president of American Apparel and Footwear Association and US-based labour organisation AFL-CIO.

During the meetings, they will discuss the bill and seek their support to enact it.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has been working for long to seek support for the bill to get through.

McDermott placed the bill at the US House on November 19, 2009, which is now up for a review at the House Ways and Means Committee.

Commerce Ministry Director General (WTO Cell) Amitav Chakraborty, second Vice-President of BGMEA Md Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, Director Arshad Jamal Dipu, General Manager of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority AZM Azizur Rahman and Executive Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue Mustafizur Rahman are the other members of the delegation.