US ambassador Dan W Mozena on Thursday discussed with the leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association global sustainability compact, accord on fire and building safety in Bangladesh and the up coming GSP review hearing.
‘We have discussed the follow-up of the GSP action plan set by the USTR for Bangladesh for reinstatement of the GSP facility and also the sustainability compact that was launched on July 8 in Geneva and the US allied on July 19,’ Dan W Mozena told reporters after the meeting at the BGMEA office in the capital.
He said, ‘We want to work together with Bangladesh to ensure that there will be no incident like Tazreen Fashions fire or Rana Plaza collapse again.’
Mozena said that foreign, labour and commerce ministries of Bangladesh and also the BGMEA were working hard to ensure the requirements for reinstatement of the GSP facility.
‘I think Bangladesh must be the best brand in coming days,’ he said.
BGMEA president Atiqul Islam told New Age that the US ambassador gave them a questionnaire and advised to address the issues before the GSP review hearing which would be held on December.
‘We have appealed to the US administration through the ambassador for duty-free access of Bangladesh’s garment products to the US markets,’ he said.
Atiqul said that the US ambassador wanted to know the initiatives taken and the development made in accomplishing the GSP action plan set by the US government on July 19.
BGMEA vice-president Shahidullah Azim said that the US ambassador was preparing a set of recommendations to be placed before the US administration concerning the GSP action plan as he would go to Washington soon.
‘Mozena wanted to know how we are addressing their concerns and what the progress is,’ he said.
The US government set the 15-point plan of action for the Bangladesh government in readymade garment and knitwear sector, export processing zones and shrimp sector and provided a basis for restoring GSP facility.
The plan of action was suggested in a joint statement by the department of state, the department
of labour, and the office of the United States trade representative in Washington.
On June 27, US president Barack Obama announced the decision to suspend Bangladesh’s trade benefits under the generalised system of preferences in view of insufficient progress by the Bangladesh government in affording workers internationally recognised rights.
-With New Age input
