BGMEA seeks duty-free benefit for garment export to US

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has requested the US authorities for duty-free access to the US market for garment products made from the American cotton.

The trade body wrote in separate letters to Governor of Texas Greg Abbott, Senator from the Texas Ted Cruz, and US ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Monday.

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In the letter, the BGMEA said on February 19, this year, the Bangladesh government eased the rules of mandatory fumigation tests for importing cotton from the Western Hemisphere countries or regions that cover the United States of America.

The relaxation of the rule will certainly make trade easier, reduce time and cost of importing cotton from the US, it said.

Bangladesh's garments face a 15.62 per cent tariff in the US market.

Bangladesh is the second largest apparel exporting country in the world, and its share in the global apparel trade is 6.37 per cent, according to BGMEA.

In 2022, Bangladesh's apparel export to the world reached $45.71 billion.