RMG exporters solicit for duty-free access to US

21 Apr '10

2 min read

In order to convince the United States Congressmen and business leaders to permit duty-free access of Bangladeshi products into the US market, business delegates of the country are visiting US till April 22.

During this visit, the Bangladeshi delegation led by, Acting Commerce Secretary, M Golam Hossain, will meet US Congressman, Jim McDermott to persuade him regarding, proceeding with a New Partnership for Trade and Development Act (NPTDA) 2009.

With a vision of permitting duty-free entry into the US market, to under-developed Asian and African countries, McDermott had proposed the NPTDA-2009 act on November 18, 2009 at the 111th Congress meet. The act is currently under consideration with the Ways and Means Committee of the US Congress.

This act is considered to be the most environmental friendly and patronizing bill that, the US congress has ever passed to assist Bangladesh and similar countries duty-free access into the US markets.

During their trip, the delegation also intends on meeting, acting President of Cotton Council International, top officials of USTR, senior staff of senate finance committee and wage and means committee, US-based workers association AFL-CIO and President of American Apparel and Footwear Association.

Since years, the US has been the major buyer of Bangladeshi products. Around 26 percent of the country's total export earnings are garnered from US markets.

In the 2008-09 fiscal year, overall export sales from Bangladesh to the US amounted to US $4.05 billion, out of which shipments of RMG stood at $3.69 billion in the same fiscal, accounting for 30 percent of the global clothing exports.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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