Bangladesh has appealed to India to withdraw the recent administrative notice barrier import of jute and jute products from Bangladesh, which is adversely affecting the former's economy. Tofail Ahmed, Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister raised this concern at a meeting with his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman recently. Need for registration at several levels of the trade process, placed on the country’s jute exports to India has upset Bangladesh.

The countervailing duties imposed on different goods imported from Bangladesh in spite of India's commitment to allow duty-free-quota-free access to almost all products needs to be waived, according to Ahmed. Officials accompanying Ahmed said he had instructed the officials for expeditious solution to the matter.

Besides, the process of construction of roads on Indian side to reap benefits of increased connectivity also needs to speed up as requested by the Minister. Ahmed further said that in the forthcoming 10th Ministerial Conference of WTO to be held in Nairobi, Bangladesh will seek service waiver and change in rules of origin in line with commitments made in Bali.

www.mincom.gov.bd