'Lifting of mandatory fumigation will boost bilateral trade'

The lifting of the rule of mandatory fumigation of US cotton by Bangladesh has created a huge bilateral trade opportunity, said Faruque Hassan, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

"Now the US cotton can be imported by Bangladeshi importers without fumigation. It will reduce time, hassle and cost of doing business of the importer in case of bringing in US cotton," Hassan said today.

The BGMEA president made the comments in a meeting with William R Bettendorf, director for supply chain marketing and South Asia of the Cotton USA, a body responsible for the development of the US cotton industry; Stephanie Thiers-Ratcliffe, director for European brands and retailers, and Ali Arsalan, Bangladesh consultant.

BGMEA Director Tanvir Ahmed was also present at the meeting held at BGMEA Complex in Dhaka, the garment makers' platform said in a statement.

The American importers would be able to purchase more clothing items from Bangladesh if the Biden administration allows duty-free access of garments made from cotton imported from the US, Hassan said.

He sought Cotton USA's cooperation in this matter and said the lifting of the mandatory fumigation would benefit both Bangladeshi garment exporters and US cotton growers and create a win-win situation.

He informed the Cotton USA's team about BGMEA's initiative to organise Bangladesh Apparel Summit in the USA in October 2023 and requested them to extend support to Bangladesh by inviting US cotton exporters and apparel buyers to the summit.

Bangladesh is the second largest cotton-importing country in the world as the nation's garment makers meet 98 per cent of their cotton demand through imports.