GSP Wants More Work for the United States

Some steps will be taken to get back the GSP of Bangladeshi products in the market of United States. For this, the USA has given some conditions. Analysts think that there are fewer probabilities of good news in the upcoming hearing for Bangladesh.

The next hearing of GSP will be in the United States in next May. At last, Wednesday, after a meeting of some Diplomats of Western countries with the officials of Bangladesh, U.S. Ambassador Dan Mojena said, ''there are still some challenges of getting back the GSP of Bangladesh in America's market. Implementation of labor law in EPZs is one of them.''

Besides Mojena, European Union Ambassador William Hanna, Netherlands, Canada as well as Spanish Ambassador also attended the meeting with Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, and Labor Secretary Mikail Shipar.

112 people died by the fire in Tazrin Fashion on 24th November, 2012and 1132 people died by the accident in Rana Plaza on April 4 of last year. From then Bangladesh garment workers' insecurity became a storm of criticism over the world. Then, last June, the country has suspended GSP market for Bangladeshi products. To get this facility back, Obama's government announced a plan with several conditions for Bangladesh. “Most of the action plan has been implemented, and the rest will be implemented before the specific time," said Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at last month.

On last 11 February, in the hearing of the Senate of the United States, Deputy Under Secretary of the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Eric Beale said that Bangladesh would have to work harder to get back the GSP benefit. He also stated that Bangladesh could not show enough progress for the reinstatement of GSP facility according to the agenda granted by USA government.

Professor of Economics at Dhaka University, Helal Uddin said, ''working condition of Clothing factory, labor safety, wages, and trade union of workers are the four main conditions. Certain conditions can be met in the short term, but the working conditions and labor safety cannot be guaranteed so fast, because it will take a lot of time to qualify the buildings of garment factories. The trade union is a complex issue. Clothing factory inspection and standardization of safety will take time.'' he further said, ''it will take some more time for Bangladesh to get back the GSP benefit by meeting the conditions. It may not be possible by next May." Although Bangladesh will not face a major difficulty in making this decision of the USA in the case of Europe, Bangladesh's trade will be expected to fall in the face of disaster.