Ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin met United States Trade Representative (USTR), Ambassador Michael Froman
UsaNewsOnline : The Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin met with the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Ambassador Michael Froman at his office on 8 October. Ambassador Ziauddin had assumed the office of the Head of the Bangladesh Mission recently and it was a courtesy call on the USTR by him.
During the meeting, both of them discussed issues related to trade, investment and the GSP review for Bangladesh. In reference to the later, Ambassador Ziauddin mentioned that most of the conditions in the “Bangladesh Action Plan 2013” seen as a precondition for reinstatement of GSP facilities had already been implemented by the stakeholders. The few remaining ones are in the various stages of implementation. Taking cognizance of the progress made by Bangladesh within a short time, he requested the USTR to take a considerate view in the next GSP review for Bangladesh. He also stressed on the importance of allowing duty-free, quota-free access for Bangladesh products to the US market.
Ambassador Froman acknowledged Bangladesh’s many positive steps to ensure safety and security of the workers and upholding their rights as per the law of the country. However, he stressed on the full implementation of the Action Plan 2013 for ensuring the benefits and upholding the rights of all the workers. Mr. Froman also stressed on the practice of the fair labor practices in Bangladesh. Both Ambassador Ziauddin and Ambassador Froman agreed that they and all the stakeholders may continue to work together in the coming days in resolving the trade related issues between the two countries, including the issue GSP reinstatement to Bangladesh.
The USTR Michael Froman was assisted by his officials Mr. Michael Delaney (Assistant USTR for South & Central Asia), Mr. William Jackson (Deputy Assistant USTR for GSP Affairs), Mr. Michael O’donovan (Deputy Assistant USTR for Labor) and Behnaz Kibria (Deputy Chief of Staff, USTR Office) while the Bangladesh Ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin was accompanied by Commercial Counselor Md. Shafiqul Islam of the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC.PRESS RELEASE
