Nepal seeks duty-free access to Bangladesh for 76 goods

Nepal has sought duty-free and quota-free market access for 76 goods while Bangladesh is seeking preferential treatment for 42 goods as joint secretary-level trade talks between the two South Asian countries kicked off on Tuesday. Prakash Dahal_ joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry_ Commerce and Supplies_ said they discussed the draft of a preferential trade agreement and the rules of origin and technicalities on the first day of the virtual meeting. A decision on the preferential trade agreement will be finalised and signed after the secretary-level meeting scheduled for Thursday.  Our main focus is on zero tariff for the listed goods from Nepal_ he said. Besides customs charges_ Bangladesh levies other detail charges (ODC) on Nepali goods that prices them out of the Bangladeshi market_ he said. Bangladesh has been providing duty-free access to 108 Nepali products. Nepal has been urging Bangladesh to expand the list to cover major exportable items such as tea_ coffee_ large cardamom_ broom_ fresh fruits_ kattha and pashmina_ among others. Items not getting duty-free access have difficulties entering Bangladesh. Bangladesh is looking for 100 percent customs waiver under the preferential trade agreement_ said Dahal. But we have not received the final list of goods from Bangladesh_ he said. The products that are mostly exported from Nepal to Bangladesh are listed in a preferential trade agreement_ and they include agro products like lentils_ green vegetables and fruits_ dairy products_ tea and coffee_ cardamom_ ginger and yarn_ among others. The meeting will also review the status of the agreements between Nepal's Department of Food Technology and Quality Control and the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution_ and Salt Trading Corporation and Trading Corporation of Bangladesh. These pacts were signed at the fifth meeting last year. The agreements are intended to help in exchanging standards and information on quality control between the two countries_ said Dahal. Nepal and Bangladesh are scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding to share agriculture know-how between the Department of Agriculture Extension of Bangladesh and Nepal s Department of Agriculture. Last year_ Nepal and Bangladesh discussed direct flight connectivity through Saidpur in Bangladesh and Bhadrapur or Biratnagar in Nepal. Officials said that Bangladesh had been positive about the proposal to promote tourism and operate cargo flights for light goods.  This subject will be discussed again_ said Dahal. Bangladesh has proposed a list of pharmaceutical products to Nepal by observing the situation on listed medicine products_ which will be discussed at the conference_ he said. An agreement on Rohanpur-Singhabad railway transit has been reached_ and discussions will be held about the work to be done by the two sides. This will help in cutting import costs_ he added. As Nepali students need to renew their visas repeatedly while studying engineering and medicine in Bangladesh_ discussions will be held to provide visas for the duration of the course. Bangladesh has raised the subject of visas for investors and business people. There is no provision of on arrival visa for citizens of either country travelling overland. This subject will also be discussed_ said Dahal.