Stress removal of non-tariff barriers at WTO meet

CPD distinguished fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya, right, speaks at a dialogue organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue in Dhaka on Wednesday. — New Age photo

Economists, politicians suggest govt at CPD dialogue

Staff Correspondent

Economists and political leaders on Wednesday suggested that the government should put emphasis on addressing issues like export of human resource and removal of the non-tariff barriers in export of products at the 8the ministerial conference of WTO to be held in Geneva in December 15-17.

‘The world economy has taken a complex shape. The WTO’s Doha Development Round is to be completed after 10 years of its beginning. The Round is not only exhausting gradually but moving towards its death.’ said Centre for Policy Dialogue distinguished fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya at a discussion organised by the private think tank in the capital.

Debapriya said Bangladesh’s demand should not be limited only to duty-free and quota-free market access as the duty free access to United States had been turned into a very political issue.

‘How long Bangladesh will wait for duty-free access?’ he asked recommending that the government should stress manpower export and non-tariff barrier issues.

Debapriya presented a paper titled ‘Doha is dead, does WTO win?’ at the discussion where civil aviation and tourism minister Faruk Khan was present as chief guest. Faruk, the immediate past commerce minister, will lead a 17-member Bangladesh delegation to Geneva.

Former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury suggested the government should intensify direct political-level persuasion in the USA to obtain more duty- and quota-free access of Bangladeshi products to its market.

Former Bangladesh ambassador to the USA Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh should bilaterally pursue the US government to obtain more duty- and quota-free facilities for its products.

Faruk said Bangladesh had taken all preparation to negotiate with the developed and developing countries on different trade issues at the Geneva meeting.

Humaun Kabir said African nations had a strong lobby among the US policymakers. The US government treats the African nations as a unified group, he said.

He suggested for building an alignment with the African nations to pursue the US government.

CPD executive director Mustafizur Rahman moderated the session. Member of parliament Fazlul Azim, former ambassador Tawfiq Al, International Chamber of Commerce, (Bangladesh) president Mahbubur Rahman and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Asif Ibrahim also spoke.