Apparel exporters are looking for a strong negotiation with Turkey during the Prime Minister's Turkey visit in the second week of April to withdraw the safeguard duty imposed on Bangladeshi readymade garments (RMG), reports UNB.
The RMG exporters said the export volume would increase significantly if the safeguard duty is withdrawn as export of Bangladesh's garments to Turkey is being hampered due to that provision.
"Negotiation will have to be for full withdrawal of the duty…as a friendly and Muslim country we want Turkey treats us differently," Bangladesh Garment Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BGMEA) president Md. Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin told the news agency.
The business dropped significantly due to the safeguard duty imposition on the Bangladeshi RMG products to Turkey's market, the apparel exporters' leader said.
In September last, the Eurasian country imposed 17 per cent safeguard duty on the RMG imports from Bangladesh and other least developed countries (LDCs).
Bangladesh has consistently been requesting Turkey to lift the duty that made Bangladesh suffer the most as it was a leading RMG exporter to Turkey and had been enjoying duty-free access as an LDC.
"Success depends on how strongly we negotiate. . if full withdrawal appears difficult, we, at least expect relaxation," BGMEA First Vice President Nasir Uddin Chowdhury said.Chowdhury, also managing director of Eastern Apparels Limited, said if the negotiation goes well 100 per cent waiver is possible. "We'll be benefited and business will boom."
"Knitwear is badly affected for the provision (safeguard duty) . . we won't be able to achieve the export target," said Mohammad Hatem, the second vice president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).He said Bangladesh's knitwear export target for the current fiscal is US$ 10.80 billion.
Bangladesh exported knitwear worth US$ 6,297.10 million during the July-February period of the current fiscal, according to BKMEA sources."We want full waiver (of safeguard duty). . Eurozone crisis has already slowed down business," Hatem said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will fly to Turkey on April 9 on a four-day official visit aiming to boost bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, health, culture and connectivity, officials said.
She will visit the country at the invitation of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
During the visit, the two countries will make several deals on promoting bilateral trade and investment, introduction of direct Dhaka-Ankara air service and opening of direct banking network.
Officials said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will request Turkish President Abdullah Gul for lifting the safeguard duty on Bangladeshi readymade garments (RMG).
During his visit to Bangladesh in November, 2010, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed the hope that two-way trade between the two countries will cross the US$3 billion mark by 2015.