Dhaka, US discuss election, tariff, Rohingya issues

Bangladesh on Thursday sought greater political and humanitarian support from the United States to help address the Rohingya crisis in addition to raising the high tariff issues.

"We broadly discussed the Rohingya issue," Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin said, adding that the upcoming election issue was also discussed.

The US delegation comprising of US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) Nicole Ann Chulick and Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Andrew R Herrup met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser and High Representative to Chief Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and the Foreign Secretary separately and discussed the issues of mutual interest.

Briefing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Secretary Jashim said they also discussed the ongoing reform issues and steps taken by the interim government.

The centrepiece of Bangladesh's actions is to significantly increase the imports of US agricultural products such as cotton, wheat, corn and soybean which will offer benefits to US farmers.

Bangladesh has the lowest tariff on most US exports in the South Asian region.

The Chief Adviser indicated further tariff cuts on US products are being fashioned, including top US export items such as gas turbines, semiconductors and medical equipment.

Bangladesh will build dedicated duty free bonded warehouses for cotton to improve speed to market.

A separate letter detailing the actions by Bangladesh was sent by the Commerce Advisor to the US Trade Representative, reports UNB.

Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi said, "I have further important discussions scheduled with the offices of USTR, Commerce and State department, in Washington DC next week."