US Tariff structure needs to be impartial

US tariff structure should be impartial for encouraging exports from poor countries, a seminar was told in Dhaka yesterday.
Referring to a study, the seminar was told that in 2006 Bangladeshi exports to the US were worth $3.3 billion that faced tariffs of $ 496 million, while in the same period UK exports to US were valued at $53.5 billion but $430 million tariff.
The country needs to be tactical to fight discriminatory tariff system of the US, Anwar ul Alam Parvez, president of BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association), said at the seminar organised by Make Trade Fair Bangladesh.
The seminar also discussed the New Partnership for Development Act-2007 (NPDA) that was tabled in US Congress in October last year. The NPDA will allow duty free exports from LDCs to the US.
“We have to exploit the zero duty facility not only for apparels but also for other products,” said Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of Centre for Policy Dialogue.