The fourth round of Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA) Council meeting involving Bangladesh and the USA is schedule to be held on September 13 in Washington, to promote bilateral trade and investment.
In connection with the upcoming meeting, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce recently organised a workshop to discuss and finalise the agenda. The meeting was attended by Commerce Secretary Shubhashis Bose, officials from different ministries, Director General of WTO Cell Md Munir Chowdhury, amongst others.
The media report quoting a Commerce Ministry official claimed that the issues of mutual economic cooperation and engagement covered under the TICFA deal will largely be the focus of discussion. Bangladesh is reportedly planning to take up the issue of market access of Bangladeshi products in the US market, tariff reforms, etc.
“The issue of fair price and ethical buying practice by American buyers will also be raised at the meeting considering the latest development in local garment industry,” reportedly maintained the concerned Commerce Ministry official to the media.
It may be mentioned here that the third meeting of TICFA was held in 2017 in Dhaka. During the meeting, Bangladesh and the United States deliberated intensively on issues of mutual interest covered under the TICFA. Technical trade discussions focused on ease of doing business, market access and tariff reforms, intellectual property, digital economy, regional connectivity, energy and infrastructure development, transparency in Government procurement, and labour.
The upcoming 4th meeting will be co-chaired by Commerce Secretary Shubhashish Bose and Mark Linscott, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative.
Bangladesh and the USA signed the TICFA agreement on 25 November 2013. The first TICFA Council meeting was held in April 2014 in Dhaka while the second one was held in November 2015 in Washington.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
