16pc duty on garments entering US market

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Wednesday said Bangladeshi garment products enter the US market by paying around 16 percent duty.

The apex trade body of the country’s apparel sector came up with the data a day after US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena claimed that Bangladesh pays zero tariff.

It, however, said Bangladesh’s apparel exports enjoy duty-free access to the European Union, Canada, Japan and Australian markets.

According to BGMEA data, Bangladesh exported apparels worth US$ 4996.58 million to the US market in fiscal 2012-2013, which was 23.22 percent of the country’s total RMG export.

In 2013, Bangladesh paid duty worth 15.62 percent on overall exports and the total amount was US$ 828.42 million.

-UNB