13 US terms met to regain GSP: Tofail
Bangladesh has met 13 of the 16 conditions needed to regain trade privileges from the United States, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said today.
The three conditions that are yet to be met are the appointment of 200 inspectors, allowing trade unions at export procession zones (EPZ) and resolving allegations of torture on workers in 19 factories.
At a press briefing at his ministry office, Tofail said the government would appoint 200 inspectors soon through prime minister’s administrative order after discussing it with the Public Service Commission and labour ministry.
He said according to the terms set by the US the inspectors must be appointed by April-May to get back GSP facility. “But, according to rules, they have to be appointed through the PSC. That will take at least two years.”
“We will talk to the PSC about the cabinet’s decision. The labour ministry will take initiatives. There is a scope of appointing them through prime minister’s administrative order,” Tofail said.
Following the Rana Plaza collapse, the US scrapped Bangladesh’s Generalised System of Preferences status on June 27 last year, saying the country would get back the status if it fulfilled the conditions including improving work environment in factories.
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