Ministries preparing coordinated response

Government ministries are preparing coordinated response to resolve the deadlock related to bumped-up US tariffs on Bangladeshi exports as the deal offered by Washington is tied with some conditions beyond trade realms, sources say.

The government will finalise its decision on the critical conditions for reducing tariff rates on eliciting opinions from relevant ministries as a decisive third round of negotiations with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is ahead.

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman apprised journalists Wednesday of the process of preparation following an inter-ministerial meeting -- as businesses in Bangladesh, especially the export-centric apparel industry, remained on tenterhooks.

He said, "In our ongoing discussions with the United States on the tariff issue, various ministries are involved. Hence, we are gathering their opinions. Once we have them, a final proposal will be prepared and sent for further discussions with the US side."

Regarding the third round of negotiations, the Commerce Secretary mentions that the US has not yet provided a specific date. "We are in communication with them about when the next course of action will begin."

The top trade official mentions that Bangladesh is importing many items, including food-grains, and each product is subject to separate regulations. "We are currently evaluating these."

Following the three-day second round of discussions with the US, the Ministry of Commerce held inter-ministerial meetings after returning to the country last Sunday.

As part of this painstaking process, the inter-ministerial meeting held at 11am Wednesday drew representatives from 11 ministries, including Finance, Agriculture, Food, Environment, and Energy. Officials from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission also attended the meeting with Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin in the chair.

Sources say the US conditions binding reducing in steep tariffs -- lastly set at 35 per cent -- were reviewed, and relevant ministries were asked to provide their comments.

Similar meetings will be held with other ministries concerned, too, as the US-set dos for Bangladesh reportedly overreach trade relations.

And these tags are cloaked in a 'Nondisclosure Agreement' reached by the two governments.

Bangladesh's representatives will have to provide feedback on the US conditions during the third round of talks. Before that, a final decision will be submitted to Chief Adviser of the post-uprising interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus.

After Wednesday's meeting, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said, "This is a process. We need to gather opinions from different ministries as many issues are involved."

He adds, "These meetings will continue. After consolidating feedback from the ministries, we will finalise a proposal and proceed with further discussions."

Asked whether a date has been confirmed for the third-round negotiations with the US, the Secretary said, "They have not given a specific time yet. We are maintaining communication."

Asked about the specific issues discussed in the meeting, he said, "We import several products from the US, including food items. Various laws and regulations apply in this regard, and we have sought clarification from the relevant ministries."

"This is a global issue," he continues. "We are following the same procedures that countries around the world follow."

It is also understood that while there is broad consensus on trade-related matters, several non-trade issues remain unresolved in the negotiations between Bangladesh and the US. However, when asked if any such issues were discussed in Wednesday's meeting, the Commerce Secretary parried the query.

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