Bangladesh is one of five Asian countries currently undergoing a new fact-finding investigation initiated by the US, examining the status and export competitiveness of their apparel manufacturing industries.
Media reports claimed this adding the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has identified India, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Pakistan as the other nations included in this scrutiny.
The investigation was reportedly requested by the US Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter to the Commission on 20th December of the previous year.
The USTR specifically tasked the USITC with preparing a comprehensive report on the export competitiveness of the apparel industries in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan, all of which are significant clothing suppliers to the US market.
According to data from the US Department of Commerce’s Office of Textile and Apparel (OTEXA), Bangladesh ranks as the third-largest apparel exporter to the USA, following China and Vietnam.
In the January-to-November period of 2023, the US imported apparel worth US $ 15.21 billion from China, US $ 13.17 billion from Vietnam, and US $ 6.79 billion from Bangladesh.