The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has requested a meeting date from Bangladesh as part of ongoing investigations into trade practices and forced labor. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman confirmed that Brendan Lynch, the assistant USTR for South and Central Asia, reached out to the commerce ministry for scheduling.
Following the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, a meeting date will be finalized, with only three working days remaining. The upcoming hearing may involve inquiries about production capacity across various industrial sectors, wage disbursement, recent labor law updates, export capabilities, subsidy allocations, and labor-related issues.
One focal point of discussion may be the non-tariff barriers hindering American businesses in Bangladesh. The country has begun gathering evidence and making preparations to present its perspective during the hearing.
Challenges lie ahead for the USTR in proving certain claims, such as Bangladesh’s alleged excessive production capacity, especially considering the closure of numerous factories, particularly in the garment sector, due to reduced work orders from international retailers.
Additionally, the USTR’s assertion of export subsidies from Bangladesh may be challenging to substantiate, given the government’s substantial reduction of such subsidies as part of its efforts to graduate from the least-developed country status later this year.
Bangladesh has aligned its laws with international standards, following recommendations from the International Labor Organization, to address any discrepancies. Mostafa Abid Khan, a former member of the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, expressed confidence in Bangladesh’s ability to provide compelling evidence during the investigation.
In the past, Bangladesh successfully defended itself against claims of significant increases in exports, such as with sleeping bags, through substantial evidence. The garment sector stands ready to support the government in presenting relevant data and evidence during the investigation.
Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, emphasized that the garment industry operates responsibly and does not engage in overproduction that could harm the US manufacturing sector. He also stressed that Bangladesh does not manufacture counterfeit garments that could infringe on intellectual property rights.
