In an effort to have the GSP facility restored for Bangladesh in the US market, the Foreign, Commerce and Labour Secretaries had a review meeting with US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan Mozena on Wednesday.At the meeting held at the Foreign Ministry, they discussed the Action Plan given by the US government and conveyed the US envoy about the measures being taken by the government for getting back the GSP benefit.
“We’ve mainly discussed the US Action Plan for having the GSP benefit restored. We’ve conveyed what steps are being taken,” Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed told UNB over phone after the meeting.
Responding to a question, he said the issue of next GSP hearing, scheduled to be held in Washington in December next, came up for discussion unofficially.
Asked whether there was any discussion on Ticfa (Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement), Mahbub Ahmed said, “No, there’s no discussion on Ticfa.”
Earlier on Monday, Mozena held a meeting with the Foreign Secretary to discuss Ticfa issue and he told the media that it is likely to be signed within a few weeks.
Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque said they had discussion with the US ambassador over labour issues. Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipar was also present at the meeting.
After the meeting with three secretaries, Mozena said he came to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the Action Plan given to Bangladesh for restoring the GSP benefit.
The envoy also said there will be a review in December, just after six months of the suspension, and he had a fruitful discussion with the secretaries.
Mozena said he will be leaving for the USA on Saturday and discussion will be there on steps taken by the government and the US given Action Plan for Bangladesh.
On July 19, the US government made public an Action Plan public outlining measures to protect workers’ rights and address in a meaningful way the worker safety problems in factories to get back suspended trade benefits under the GSP.
On the basis of this action plan, the United States looks forward to continuing to work with Bangladesh on the actions it needs to take in relation to potential reinstatement of GSP benefit.
The action plan is aimed at improving workers safety in Bangladesh in the wake of global uproar following the collapse of a commercial building here in April that killed 1,129 people in one of the world’s worst industrial disasters.
The plan calls for increasing the number of labour, fire and building inspectors and modifying labor laws related to collective bargaining and discrimination against union members.
On June 27, President Obama announced his decision to suspend Bangladesh’s trade benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) in view of insufficient progress by the Government of Bangladesh in affording Bangladeshi workers internationally recognized worker rights. – UNB
