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DUTY-FREE ACCESS TO US MARKET

Hard job, but Dhaka should not lose heart, says Rocca

BDNEWS, Dhaka
The US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Christina Rocca, yesterday said it will be a "hard job" for Bangladesh to get duty free access to the US market.
"I'm not so hopeful, it'll be a very hard job, but you should keep trying," Rocca was quoted as saying by a leading businessman, who attended a breakfast meeting with her at the American Club in Gulshan.
Local apparel manufacturers and exporters at the hour-long meeting pleaded for Bush administration's steps to waive $330 million paid as duty every year for Bangladeshi garments.
BGMEA President Annisul Huq, BTMA President MA Awal, BKMEA President Fazlul Hoque and Sohel F Rahman of Beximco Group and US Ambassador Harry K Thomas attended the meet.
The business leaders told Rocca Bangladesh is enjoying some sort of trade facilities from most of the developed countries including Canada, Australia and Japan and from the EU, but not from the US in the post-MFA era.
In reply, the US assistant secretary reportedly told them after the MFA phase-out, textile has become a burning issue in the US, where local industries themselves are facing trouble.
She put forward a number of recommendations for Bangladesh industry: diversification of Bangladesh's export basket and improving the service at Chittagong port to make the export items cost-competitive.
Her reaction to Dhaka's plea for duty free access came only days after the BGMEA completed a US tour to lobby for passage of "Tariff Relief Assistance for Developing Economies Act of 2005" bill, expected to allow the facility for Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan at separate meetings on Thursday also asked Rocca for the duty free access facility.
If the Trade Act 2005 is passed, it will extend the trade facility to 15 countries including five South Asian nations -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
As the president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) pointed out the positive approach of some US senators and congresspersons towards the Trade Act 2005, Rocca said it has to go through various procedures.
Bangladesh's export earning from the readymade garments sector stood at $5.6 billion in 200304 fiscal year, compared to $4.9 billion in 2002-03.