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No gains for Dhaka Unb, Dhaka The Daily Star, 18-12-2005 Bangladesh lost out in the global trade battle as World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiators approved a hard-fought trade agreement yesterday night in Hong Kong (HK), putting some 339 products out of the zero-tariff status. Officials in the Bangladesh delegation estimated the number which fall into the three percent the agreement left out from market privileges, a Bangladesh delegation member said. The final agreement calls on wealthy nations to allow duty and quota-free privileges to at least 97 percent of products exported by the least developed countries (LDCs) by 2008 as the six-day sixth WTO ministerial conference concluded yesterday. "Bangladesh would be benefited unless there is any declaration of the conference," Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury had told the press, immediately after finalisation of the draft. He even reiterated, "Bangladesh will use veto even if it has to do it alone." He, however, refrained from using it when the agreement was endorsed. "The conference seems to be a deadlock," he said as the 'green room' meeting came to a halt around 3:30pm HK time. Bangladesh opposed even 0.1 percent of the total tariff lines to go in the sensitive list in apprehension the main export-earning source the ready made garments (RMG) could become the victim as USA categorically made it clear. US Trade Representative Rob Portman said the textile products from Bangladesh and Cambodia would not be given duty-free and quota-free access to the US market, as "it would be difficult to justify because of the global competitiveness the two nations have achieved in the sector," BDNEWS reported. "It's worst to bad for us. I'm sure textile and RMG will fall in the sensitive list of three percent and will be punished," BGMEA Director Annisul Haque said. "And my personal opinion is Bangladesh will get out of the LDC group and form Asia Pacific LDCs," he said, apparently indicating the poorer nations had been divided in negotiation as the developed countries became successful in their strategy. FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain, a member of the delegation, termed it disappointing and said Bangladesh would not benefit anyway. Economist Debapriya Bhattachariya said, "It was a failure in the ability to pick up political signals." Bangladesh delegation officials said the revised list would not be effective immediately, rather in 2008 or after the conclusion of Doha Round. "It's not bound, and reversible any time. They can shift the tariff line anytime," an official added. The agreement urged that developing member countries shall be permitted to phase in their commitments and shall enjoy appropriate flexibility in coverage. The WTO members urged development partners like World Bank, IMF, ADB and DFID to co-ordinate their work to ensure LDCs are not subjected to conditions on loans, grants and official development assistance that are inconsistent with their rights and obligations under the WTO agreements.
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