Ticfa possible during this government's time: Quader

The signing of Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) with the US is possible during the incumbent government's tenure, Commerce Minister GM Quader said yesterday.
“I have asked the foreign ministry several times to arrange a system to sign the agreement. It needs to be signed as soon as possible as the government's tenure is nearing its end,” Quader told The Daily Star.
He said he would follow it up with the foreign ministry again.
Ticfa with the US, Quader insists, is important as it would create a platform for discussion, to be used to settle trade disputes.
“If the Ticfa had been in place, Bangladesh could have discussed the GSP [Generalised System of Preferences] issue anytime. As things stand now, it is not possible as there is no such platform between the two countries.”
After talks that stretched more than a decade, the cabinet on June 17 finally approved the crucial deal, which is tipped to boost trade and investment between the two countries.