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New Delhi has claimed that India's exports to Bangladesh are facing challenges due to non-tariff barriers.
Indian authorities concerned through Bangladesh high commission in New lodged the claim and sought necessary steps to look into the issue, an official document revealed.
The Bangladesh mission in India has communicated the Indian authorities' clam with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an official said, adding that the ministry later informed the commerce ministry about the matter.
However, details about the non-tariff barriers have not been mentioned in the document.
On the other hand, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Bangladesh trade and Tariff commission (BTTC) refuted such claim.
According to them, no non-tariff barriers currently exist regarding India's goods export to Bangladesh.
Officials, however, if India's exports to Bangladesh face any non-tariff obstacles, necessary step has been taken to address the same.
The commerce ministry is to request the foreign ministry, asking the Bangladesh high commission, Delhi to provide a details report on Indian's claim, said an official.
Meetings often take place between the two sides on the issues like removal of all tariff types of tariff barriers, the official said, adding, the Indian's claim on non-tariff barrier is supposed to be discussed at the next Commerce Secretary-level meeting.
Trade talks between Bangladesh and India remain stalled for a couple of years, despite frequent reminders from the former's side, mainly due to a lack of positive response from the Indian side, an official said at the commerce ministry.
Bangladesh recently requested the Indian authorities to fix date for holding the meeting, he mentioned.
Currently, India's exports to Bangladesh are much higher than its imports.
The total bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India was approximately $14 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24, with India having a trade surplus of $9-10 billion.
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina regime, bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries are not up to the mark due to different issues, including transhipment, transit, minority rights, etc.
On April 8 this year, India cancelled the transhipment facility for Bangladesh's export cargoes to third countries cvia its land ports, including air routes.
After that, Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue (NBR) banned the import of yarn from India through all land ports.
According to officials, any tariff barriers currently does not exist regarding Bangladesh's goods export to India, but they are facing various non-tariff barriers, including anti-dumping duties, product quality certification, inadequate port infrastructure, land and sea connectivity restrictions, etc.
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