Bangladesh is expected to sign Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (Ticfa) with the United States (US) soon in order to further promote and strengthen bilateral trade relationship, commerce minister said Saturday. “Top levels of both the countries have mutually agreed to ink the deal soon,” GM Quader said while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on “Bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) – Opportunities and Challenges for Bangladesh: Framework Issues,’ at the DCCI conference room in the city. “There is nothing serious in signing Ticfa with America. Rather it is an attempt to enhance business with the US,” Quader said.
Under the deal, a meeting of trade ministerial level of both the countries will be held in a year where both countries could place different proposals to promote bilateral trade, he said. “If any parties want to cancel the deal, they will be able to do it easily. And, when any parties give notice to cancel ‘Ticfa,’ it will no longer be existed after 180 days from notice period even though no response is received,” the minister said.
DCCI president M Sabur Khan was in the chair.
The seminar was also addressed by Osama Taseer, director of DCCI, Khondaker Golam Moazzem, additional research director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Md Shahab Ullah, chairman of Bangladesh Tariff Commission, Dr Ananya Raihan, executive director of D-Net, Dr Abul Basher, research fellow of BIDS, and Nessar Maksud Khan, senior vice president of DCCI.
-With The Independent input
