Myanmar News Links: US Suspends Bangladesh Trade Privileges

Protesters hold up a sign commemorating those killed in recent clothing factory tragedies in Bangladesh outside Wal-Mart Stores Inc. headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, on June 5, 2013. (Photo: Reuters / Rick Wilking)

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama announced Thursday the suspension of US trade privileges for Bangladesh because of concerns over labor rights and worker safety that intensified after hundreds died there in the global garment industry's worst accident.

In a proclamation, Obama said Bangladesh was not taking steps to afford internationally recognized worker rights to employees in the South Asian country.

US Trade Representative Mike Froman said the United States will, however, start new discussions with Bangladesh on improving workers' conditions so the duty-free benefits that cover some 5,000 products can be restored. He didn't say when that might be, noting that it would depend on Bangladesh's actions.

Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry called the suspension "harsh" and had been taken despite its concrete actions to improve factory safety.

Thursday's announcement was the culmination of a years-long review of labor conditions in the impoverished country. Democratic lawmakers have been pushing for the step since the April 24 collapse of Rana Plaza in Dhaka that killed 1,129 people. In November, a fire at a garment factory killed more than 100 people.

"The recent tragedies that needlessly took the lives of over 1,200 Bangladeshi garment factory workers have served to highlight some of the serious shortcomings in worker rights and workplace safety standards in Bangladesh," Froman said.

The Generalized System of Preferences, which is designed to boost the economies of developing nations, covers less than 1 percent of Bangladesh's nearly $5 billion in exports to the United States, its largest market. The benefits don't cover the lucrative garment sector but Bangladesh's government was anxious to keep them.

The action may not exact a major and immediate economic toll, but it carries a reputational cost and might deter American companies from investing in the country, one of the world's poorest.

The US action, which takes effect in 60 days, also may sway a decision by the European Union, which is considering withdrawing GSP privileges. EU action could have a much bigger economic impact, as its duty-free privileges cover garments, which account for 60 percent of Bangladesh's exports in that sector.

The US Trade Representative review of labor conditions in Bangladesh follows a petition filed in 2007 by the AFL-CIO labor federation seeking withdrawal of the GSP benefits. The review was expedited late last year amid concern from US lawmakers over deadly industrial accidents, deteriorating labor rights and the April 2012 killing of prominent labor activist Aminul Islam—a case that has not been solved.

Froman said despite close engagement with Bangladesh to encourage labor reforms, the United States hadn't seen sufficient progress. But he said the United States was "committed to working with the government of Bangladesh to take the actions necessary to rejoin the program." Steps it wants to see include passage of an amended labor law and other steps to enhance workers' rights and worker safety, Froman said.

Defending its record, Bangladesh said it was amending the labor law and a ministerial committee has been formed to ensure compliance by garment factories.

"Bangladesh hopes that the US administration would soon bring back Bangladesh's GSP status, a benefit a least-developed country is supposed to receive in developed countries as per the provisions of the World Trade Organization," the Foreign Ministry statement said.

House and Senate Democrats who had been calling for the US benefits to be curtailed quickly welcomed Thursday's decision.

Rep. Joe Crowley, a Democrat who is co-chairman of the congressional caucus on Bangladesh, said that in light of recent tragedies in the country, the suspension was "inevitable."

"I hope this action will propel Bangladeshi officials to develop a clear path forward that protects all workers in Bangladesh," he said.

Robert Menendez, a Democrat and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said it was long overdue for Bangladesh to change its labor practices and ensure workers' rights.

"Bangladesh is an important trading partner, but we cannot and will not look the other way while workers are subjected to unsafe conditions and environments endangering their wellbeing," Menendez said in a statement.

He also called for American companies operating in Bangladesh to improve conditions for factory workers and work with European companies on a global standard for safety.

Lawmakers have criticized US retailers that source garments from Bangladesh for not joining the more than 40 mostly European companies that have adopted a five-year, legally binding contract that requires them to help pay for fire safety and building improvements. The Bangladeshi garment manufacturers' association says it stepping up inspections and has closed 20 factories.

The garment industry employs some 4 million people in Bangladesh, 80 percent of them women.