Editorial
Leading the LDCs in WTO
Bangladesh must rise to the occasion
On the heels of our rather lacklustre performance at the Hong Kong WTO round, it is a highly welcome tiding that the mantle of leadership of the least developed countries (LDCs) has fallen on Bangladesh. With the baton of leadership passing from Gambia to Bangladesh, for the next six months through a consensual nod of 49 LDCs, onerous responsibilities devolve on our country for steering the cause of the least developed world to collective fruition. We are no stranger to the job though, because we held the gavel once before . So, we know the ropes, but we have to learn to avoid the past pitfalls to provide dynamic leadership to the LDCs in their most crucial phase of gaining some leverage on the bargaining counter vis-a-vis the advanced countries. Bangladesh's access to the 'greenroom' where last-minute differences are ironed out in a retreat from the plenary, through skilful negotiations with the developed world, should be guaranteed now. Broadly speaking, Bangladesh's interests are similar to those of other LDCs but there are differences in the pattern of emphases. For instance, some of the African and Caribbean countries have got 100 per cent access for their garments to the US market. Bangladesh has yet to get it. At the Hong Kong round, 97 per cent duty-free access has been accorded to LDC goods. The modalities for obtaining the access and the timeframe within which this is sought to be materialised are yet to be determined. This is one area in which Bangladesh has to provide its leadership input. Then the developed world has given us to understand at the Hong Kong round that the 97 percent duty-free access will be gradually increased to 100 per cent. How this goal will be achieved and within what timeframe are matters that cry out for early resolution. Bangladesh in its own enlightened interest should be playing a vital role in this particular area.
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