Urges US government to reduce tariffs on readymade garments

BGMEA President Farooq Hasan has called on the US government to consider reducing tariffs on ready-made garments in Bangladesh. He made the call at a roundtable discussion titled "Rana Plaza Next Seven Years: Who's Doing It?" Organized by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, the US government and stakeholders.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington reported this information on Saturday (September 11).

The meeting was organized in the presence of Faruk Hasan, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), who is visiting the United States. The meeting discussed ongoing efforts to ensure safety and welfare of workers in the garment industry, as well as how to encourage more US importers to import Bangladeshi-made garments.

The meeting was attended by Christopher Wilson, US Assistant Trade Representative for South Asia, William Jackson, Assistant Trade Representative for Textiles, Jennifer Larson, US State Department Director for South and Central Asia, and Marin Haggard, Director of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. Officers participated.

Representatives from McCarthy Associates, Teresita Schaefer, BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali, US-Bangladesh Business Council, American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFFA), Walmart and Target, as well as Bangladesh Embassy officials participated.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M Shahidul Islam welcomed the gathering. At the same time, he highlighted the immense contribution of the garment industry to the economy and socio-economic development of Bangladesh.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has been taking various steps and initiatives to protect the welfare of workers and the industry, especially since the Rana Plaza incident.

Later, BGMEA President Farooq Hasan highlighted the various initiatives taken by the Bangladesh government and BGMEA. He mentioned the new challenges posed to the garment industry in Bangladesh due to the Corona epidemic and how BGMEA has assisted the workers during this difficult time.

He also acknowledged the generous contribution of the Bangladesh government through the incentive package. Emphasizing the need for a smooth and sustainable supply chain and sourcing, President Farooq Hassan called on U.S. buyers to reduce multiple factory inspections to reduce the cost to ready-made garment industry owners.

He urged the US buyers to provide high and fair prices for readymade garments in Bangladesh considering the increase in the minimum wage of workers in Bangladesh and the rising production cost of readymade garments. He also called on the US government to consider reducing tariffs on ready-made garments in Bangladesh.

Comments (0)