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Bangladesh not included in US' latest GSP list

The US has extended its generalised system of preferences (GSP) facility for 122 countries that include all other SAARC members, until 2017. However, Bangladesh has been left out, despite its arduous efforts for trade concession. US President on July 29 signed the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 that reauthorises the GSP Programme until December 31, 2017, according to the official website of the USTR (United States Trade Representative).

Duty-free treatment of GSP-eligible imports have been effective from July 29, 2015. The 122 favoured countries include SAARC members India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Afghanistan, however, Bangladesh is not a part of these.

According to the US federal register 144 notice of volume 80, the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 reauthorisation of GSP provides retroactive benefits only to products from a country that is a beneficiary of the GSP programme as of July 29, 2015. Countries such as Bangladesh are excluded and Russia lost eligibility between July 31, 2013 and July 29, 2015.

Experts and industry in Bangladesh feel the exclusion from the beneficiary list was 'unfortunate'. Commerce Ministry Hedayet ullah Al Mamoon, said that they met almost all the conditions outlined in the US action plan and they expect their efforts to reflect in their future action. Md Atiqul Islam, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), has said the country's garment sector was working with two western coalitions—Accord and Alliance, to improve the workplace safety and labour rights and thus he felt that excluding Bangladesh was unfortunate.

 
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