'Joining Asia-Pacific grouping – TPP would promote Bangladesh': Mozena

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

'Joining TPP would promote Bangladesh'


'Joining TPP would promote Bangladesh' | Bangladesh | bdnews24.com

Sat, Aug 31st, 2013 9:09 pm BdST

The US ambassador in Dhaka Dan Mozena hoped on Saturday that Bangladesh would explore the possibility of joining the Asia-Pacific grouping –Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – 'vigorously' in its effort to be a middle-income country.

"I believe joining TPP would promote Bangladesh as a huge player in the global market -- pharmaceuticals, finished leathers, jutes and many other items," he said as he believed that Bangladesh would be able to take full advantage of the grouping using the potentials of its young generation.

The ambassador was speaking at a seminar on "United States-Bangladesh Relations with Special Reference to Security in the Bay of Bengal" jointly organised by US embassy and the Centre for East Asia Foundation in Dhaka.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a regional trade agreement being negotiated between 12 Pacific Rim countries – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States.

He said once joined in this block, Bangladesh's export would receive a 'huge boost'.

Chaired by former ambassador M Humaiyun Kabir, the seminar was attended, among others, by former education minister Dr Osman Faruk, DG of Bangladesh Coast Guard Rear Admiral Kazi Sarwar Hossain and senior journalist Sadek Khan.

Dr Atiur Rahman of Dhaka University's Political Science Department presented the keynote paper.

The ambassador said Bangladesh was a maritime country like America and its economic wellbeing highly depends on seas.

Most of Bangladeshi exporters use the sea to export to America, Europe and other points round the world and similarly the Bangladeshi importers use the sea, he said, stressing on maintaining security for the trade's sake.

He said Bangladesh should enhance capacity to protect maritime resources and form a special force for the maritime domain.

He termed the US-Bangladesh partnership 'at its all-time high' and said it has never been "deeper, broader and stronger than it is at this moment".

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Bangladesh and Asia-Pacific dev agenda beyond 2015
Published : Saturday, 07 September 2013

Bangladesh and Asia-Pacific dev agenda beyond 2015 :: Financial Express :: Financial Newspaper of Bangladesh

Parvez Babul

WHAT is development? This logical question comes to my mind frequently. I got the definition, which is given by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). According to it, development is: 'To lead long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have access to the resources, needed for a decent standard of living and to be able to participate in the life of the community.' Achieving human development is linked to a third perspective of development, which views it as freeing people from obstacles that affect their ability to develop their own lives and communities. Development, therefore, is empowerment: it is about local people taking control of their own lives, expressing their own demands and funding their own solutions to their problems.

In accordance with the definition of development, I do believe that Bangladesh has huge necessary resources to be a developed country through long-term plans and proper utilisation of the resources.

My bureaucrat friend Mahbuba is always a positive thinker; she is an optimistic person. That is why I like her so much. If I become disappointed for any reason, I call her on the phone and talk to her for a long time. She likes to see the glass of water to be half 'full', instead of half 'empty'! As a result, I get many positive issues from her about Bangladesh to be hopeful to make our country a developed one. My other like-minded friends support the logic of Mahbuba and they place many examples in front of me that Bangladesh is a country of many potential individuals. They are able to run the wheels of mainstream development to make Bangladesh like Malaysia or Singapore within a few years.

To do that first of all we need visionary leaders locally and nationally. Because due to lack of perfect leadership, the speed of our national development becomes slow, that needs to move fast. The things we need to do next are: creating employment for the unemployed men and women home and abroad; checking corruption by ensuring good governance; democracy and political stability; to hold a free, fair and credible national election timely; to work hard comprehensively to reach Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. And to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2025, we must work harder to be a developed country beyond 2015. We have many successes and there is still a long way to go.

The leaders must keep in mind that every person both woman and man of our country is a resource person; the state should unlock their potential to make each and everyone skilled through education, training, and income generation. If we set our goals perfectly and work accurately with integrated efforts through public private partnership (PPP), certainly we shall overcome.

We can recall here a relevant Ministerial Dialogue of ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations) held in Thailand on August 27, 28 and 29, 2013. In that meeting, Asia-Pacific countries stressed 'leave no-one behind' as critical for the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015. Ministers and high-level representatives from Asia and the Pacific have adopted the 'Bangkok Declaration of the Asia-Pacific region on the United Nations Development Agenda beyond 2015'.

The Bangkok Declaration emphasized that the Post-2015 Development Agenda should be holistic, inclusive, equitable, people-centred and universal. It should aim to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development. The Declaration also recommended that the Agenda should address all forms of inequalities and the factors underpinning them. In addition, it proposed a strengthened global partnership and enhanced implementation of the agreed-upon development goals. Finally the ministers expressed their desire to see an inclusive and transparent intergovernmental process that involves civil society, private sector and other stakeholders.

The Ministerial Dialogue marked the first regional ministerial-level event to discuss the United Nations post-2015 development agenda following the release of the report of the United Nations Secretary-General's High-level Panel of Eminent Persons. Representatives from civil society, the private sector, as well as international organizations and United Nations agencies actively participated in the Dialogue. They reflected on key lessons learnt from the Millennium Development Goals process and shared Asia-Pacific perspectives on transformative shifts. It requires to advance sustainable and inclusive development across the countries of Asia-Pacific region (including Bangladesh) post-2015.

With the spotlight during the Dialogue placed repeatedly on poverty reduction and sustainable development challenges, Dr Noeleen Heyzer, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, emphasized the importance of building sustainable economic prosperity for both people and planet. Dr Noeleen said, "Now is the opportunity for the Asia-Pacific region to lead on sustainable development; economic, social, and environmental. Also to contribute to the shaping of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

Reinforcing this, Mr Shun-ichi Murata, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP, mentioned in his closing remarks, "It has become clear that economic growth alone is not enough. For long-term prosperity and sustainability, we need transformative shifts."

As outlined in the report of the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons, the five transformative shifts are: leave no one behind; put sustainable development at the core of the development agenda; transform economies for jobs and inclusive growth; build peace and effective, open and accountable public institutions and forge a new global partnership.

Reflecting this, in proposing goals to meet the broad and numerous development challenges in the region, delegations stressed the need for inclusivity. They argued that poverty reduction and education must remain at the core of global development objectives. They further advised that the post-2015 framework should incorporate goals to ensure universal access to health care and education, promotion of disaster risk reduction and preparedness. And it should also be supportive of climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability. In particular, they stressed the critical need to ensure gender equality and promote women's empowerment as a fundamental precondition and central component for sustainable development.

Moreover, the conventional concept of sustainable development stands on three pillars: economic growth; social equity; and environmental protection. We have many lessons to learn from this Ministerial Dialogue of the United Nations to follow for making our hard-earned development sustainable through regional cooperation between country and country.

.........................................................................

The writer is a journalist, columnist, author and development activist. Email: parvezbabul@**********

 

[eastwatch]

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a regional trade agreement being negotiated between 12 Pacific Rim countries – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States.

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/bangla...-promote-bangladesh-mozena.html#ixzz2eD7Kf3SK

TPP is a regional trade agreement formed by the Pacific rim countries who do a lot of international trade, but not necessarily via Pacific only. BD is not a Pacific rim country.

But, joining this group will enlarge the base of BD's international trade. US endorsement will be very helpful.

 

[BDforever]

Told you bangladesh is very important now to USA for its geographical location

 

[TopCat]

I think the offer is on the table, otherwise ambassador would not had talked about it.

By the way, aint all of the member countries are US allies???

 

[idune]

TPP was primarily initiated as dual track initiative along with pivot to counter Chinese influence. TPP is as dead as US pivot because there is nothing US can offer better than China or to break status quo. Even close US states like Japan, S korea and Australia are not that much interested in this non beneficial defunct strategy. Besides, TTP has provision where US companies dictate patent and control market. No one even close allies would fall for such blatant US imposition.

It just amusing US Ambassador in Bangladesh trying to sell such rejected strategy in Bangladesh and no media questioned about it. It is equally amusing some folks here jumping on TTP withing reviewing substance and significance.

 

[eastwatch]

Potential members

Japan joined as an observer in the TPP discussions that took place 13–14 November 2010, on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Yokohama.[35] Japan declared its intent to join the TPP negotiations on 13 March 2013 and an official announcement was made by Prime Minister Shinzō Abe on 15 March 2013 .[36] The TPP formally invited Japan to enter negotiations in April,[37] and Japan could become a full negotiating partner in August 2013.[38]

South Korea expressed interest in joining in November 2010,[39] and was officially invited to join the TPP negotiating rounds by the United States after the successful conclusion of the US-South Korea FTA in late December.[40] The country already has bilateral trade agreements with other TPP members, thus making any further multilateral TPP negotiation less complicated.[cit

Other countries that have expressed interest in TPP membership are Taiwan,[41] the Philippines,[42] Laos,[43] Colombia,[44] Costa Rica,[43] and Indonesia.[45]

On 20 November 2012, Thailand's government announced that it wishes to join the Trans-Pacific partnership negotiations during a visit by President of the United States Barack Obama and if it follows the process for Canada and Mexico, Thailand will be in the extraordinary position of having to accept any existing agreed text, sight unseen.[46]
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Above is a citation from wiki. There are many countries who have become members of TPP. When countries request to join it, it is the all powerful USA which is asking the small country BD to join this trade agreement even when it is not located in the Pacific Ocean.

Seems absurd, nevertheless, it is true. I think, it will be an important platform for BD to introduce and re-brand itself, and expand its international trade throughout the world.

BD should, however, avoid it if this agreement is just an China bashing platform. China alone is more important to BD than many other countries together.

 

[eastwatch]

The following is another report written in a different angle.

BD should explore joining Trans-Pacific Partnership :: Financial Express :: Financial Newspaper of Bangladesh

BD should explore joining Trans-Pacific Partnership
Dan Mozena tells FE
Published : Sunday, 08 September 2013

Dan Mozena


Shamsul Huq Zahid

US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dan Mozena, has suggested Bangladesh explore the possibility of joining the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a free trade agreement spanning a large area.

Australia, Brunei, Chile, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam have already joined the negotiations on the proposed TPP.

Ambassador Mozena made the suggestion while responding to a question on the issue of Bangladesh's duty free access to US market during an exclusive interview with the FE last Thursday at the American Centre, Dhaka.

He, however, said joining the TPP will not be that easy since standard concerning labour issues, environment and rule of law is tough besides requirement for greater openness of the market.

"Yet it might be worth exploring on the part of Bangladesh to join the initiative", he said.

The proposed TPP is an expanded version of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement signed between Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore in 2005 with a view to further liberalizing the economies of the Asia-pacific region.

Highlighting Bangladesh's strategic importance, in terms of trade, Ambassador Mozena said Bangladesh is going to be the nexus of the biggest trade route of the 21st century.

"Bangladesh is sitting at the middle of the super trade highway. And this country will not be a mere conduit. Rather it would contribute massively to the trade flow", he said.

He reiterated the claim that the suspension of the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) by his country was not meant to penalise Bangladesh. The GSP restoration action made available by the US government to Bangladesh, along with actions initiated by international buyers, International Labour Organisation (ILO), government of Bangladesh, apparel factory owners and workers would help stop recurrence of major industrial accidents and make Bangladesh a preferred destination for the international buyers.

Ambassador Mozena said that the US government was ready to sign the Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) with Bangladesh as the draft agreement sent by Dhaka to Washington had already been approved by the US administration.

Responding to a question on current political stalemate, he explained his government's stance saying the problem needs to be solved by the Bangladeshis themselves and the outsiders can only be helpful to any such effort. The US has requested the major parties to come to dialogue, resolve the issue and avoid violence, he said.

Ambassador Mozena, as usual, pinned high hopes on the future of Bangladesh as he found the land rich in resources and its people 'unbelievably generous, creative, energetic, resilient and entrepreneurial'.

 

[Gyp 111]

Ambassador Mozena in an exclusive interview with the FE in Dhaka late last week listed reasons behind his strong optimism about Bangladesh and answered questions on the US GSP (Generalised System of Preference) suspension, TICFA (Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement) and, of course, on current political stalemate. He also suggested Bangladesh explore the possibility of joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed free trade agreement now under negotiation. Excerpts follow:

Financial Express (FE): You seem to be very optimistic about the future of Bangladesh. What are the factors that make you so much optimistic?

Dan Mozena (DM): I have lived in Bangladesh for five years, including two years as ambassador. I have crisscrossed this country so many times and everywhere I have met wonderful people who are unbelievably generous, creative, energetic, dynamic, resilient and entrepreneurial. Secondly, Bangladesh may have a lot of poor people but it is a rich country. Its soil is richer than my home state Iowa, which is a big farm state. Bangladesh grows three crops a year. It has ample water, big coal deposit and a significant gas reserve.

Bangladesh is going to be the nexus of the biggest trade route of the 21st century. The people of Bangladesh do not talk about it but we the Americans do. We are talking about linking Indian sub-continent, even Central Asia, with the Pacific. Bangladesh is sitting at the middle of a super trade highway of the 21st century. And this country will not be a mere conduit. Rather it would contribute massively to the trade flow. Bangladesh has great potential to diversify its export basket. Flowers, roof tiles, silk and jute are among such items that have great export potential. Jute has not been developed well. If properly developed, the jute sector can replace the RMG. The potential for developing silk is also immense.

FE: The decision of the US government to suspend the GSP facility, many tend to believe, is not in conformity with all good words you say about Bangladesh. What is your comment?

DM: It is very much in conformity with that (observations about Bangladesh). Last month US congressman Sander Levin was here. He talked about GSP. He said GSP suspension was not to penalize Bangladesh. It was a decision to drive a change in Bangladesh to stop recurrence of incidents like Tazreen Fashion fire and Rana Plaza collapse and help the country become a preferred destination for the apparel world. Bangladesh has got the GSP restoration action plan which lays out the steps that need to be taken to ensure international standard labour rights, fire safety and structural soundness of factories.

The sustainability compact adopted in Geneva also lays steps identical to the GSP restoration action plan for meeting the challenges of inspecting all the 5000 plus factories with a view to ensuring labour rights, fire safety, factory structural soundness and extending national labour laws to the export processing zones (EPZs).

All stakeholders including buyers from USA and Europe, International Labour Organisation (ILO), government of Bangladesh, apparel owners and workers are working relentlessly to avert recurrence of Tazreen Fashion or Rana Plaza tragedy and establish uniform standard of labour rights, fire safety and structural safety of factories. Donors, international buyers have brought resources to the table to streamline Bangladesh apparel sector. It is yet another moment of transformation. I was here 15 years back when another transformation had taken place with the elimination of child labour, use of padlocks on factory exits, denial of access to toilets at factories and an end to accumulation of arrear overtime.

FE: You have already said GSP suspension is not anyway linked with the signing of TICFA. Yet some sceptics are still holding on the view that two are very much linked. What will you say about it?

DM: Two issues are not linked. Had the TICFA been signed earlier, it would have been very much useful to address the issue of GSP. For example, there was a petition challenging the GSP premises involving Sri Lanka. Both Sri Lanka and the USA used TICFA platform and that petition was sorted out.

TICFA is only a forum and GSP suspension is linked to the GSP restoration roadmap. When President Obama suspended GSP for Bangladesh, the US government provided a roadmap to help restore the facility. We are very much engaged with the government and other stakeholders trying to take steps to achieve the roadmap, fulfil the requirements of sustainability compact and respond to the national tripartite action plan.

FE: Will TICFA be signed between Bangladesh and the USA this month?

DM: I have no idea. The draft of the agreement has been fully agreed. The USA is ready to sign it. It is for the Bangladesh government to decide. I think TICFA is a useful mechanism.

FE: The bilateral assistance that the USA is extending to Bangladesh is over $200 million a year. But the apparel exporters, as claimed by them, are paying duty and taxes amounting $750 million a year to the US government on account of their export. Is it a fair deal?

DM: I don't know why the people here are saying this. Bangladesh exporters are paying not even a penny as duty. We the US consumers are paying the duty. The US importers are paying the duty and passing that on to the consumers there. I want to say a few more words on tariff. So many people are saying that USA is not giving Bangladesh duty free access to Bangladesh apparels. Duty free access is an issue that Bangladesh has to qualify for. Right now work is being done on the creation a large free-trade zone, called, Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) involving the USA, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, Brunei and Vietnam. So Bangladesh should explore how to join the Partnership. That is not going to be easy. There are tough standard on labour, rule of law, environmental standard and openness of the market. But it could be worth exploring.

FE: How do you look at the current political situation in Bangladesh? Will your government put its weight behind the UN move to resolve the stalemate?

DM: It is for the Bangladeshis to resolve their political problem. Outsiders can be helpful to any such effort. I know the UN is trying to be helpful. The USA has called the major parties to come to dialogue and together resolve the problem. The USA has called for avoiding violence. Violence is not a part of democracy, it is thuggery. There are ways to present your views peacefully. Once Bangladeshis themselves find a way forward for holding free, fair and credible election then a friend like USA will support that. I hope that good sense will prevail.

FE: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador

DM: Thank you too.

US ready to sign TICFA: Dan Mozena :: Financial Express :: Financial Newspaper of Bangladesh

 

[eastwatch]

"Bangladesh is going to be the nexus of the biggest trade route of the 21st century. The people of Bangladesh do not talk about it but we the Americans do. We are talking about linking Indian sub-continent, even Central Asia, with the Pacific. Bangladesh is sitting at the middle of a super trade highway of the 21st century.

And this country will not be a mere conduit. Rather it would contribute massively to the trade flow. Bangladesh has great potential to diversify its export basket. Flowers, roof tiles, silk and jute are among such items that have great export potential. Jute has not been developed well. If properly developed, the jute sector can replace the RMG. The potential for developing silk is also immense.

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/bangla...eady-sign-ticfa-dan-mozena.html#ixzz2eJWmFe3M

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I have been telling the similar thing about Bangladesh, that Bd is the center of asia's future economic activities, that BD is surrounded by three large economic blocks, namely, India, China and SE Asia. These three blocks cannot trade cheap without the direct participation of BD in the process.

The cheapest way to do trade among three or between any two blocks is to transport goods by railway through BD land without ever using the expensive sea lanes, from Delhi to Vietnam, from Shanghai to Bombay, or from Singapore to Delhi.

 

[Skallagrim]

What are the salient features of TICFA? What are the implications?? It looks like cracked Microsoft CDs would no longer be available along with Nilkhet photocopies of US origin books. I also hear that govt subsidies would have to be eliminated gradually and International standard labor practices would have to be implemented etc etc. It's altogether a vague idea based on several columnists' idea of the previously talked about SOFA and TIFA frameworks.

 

[idune]

What are the salient features of TICFA? What are the implications?? It looks like cracked Microsoft CDs would no longer be available along with Nilkhet photocopies of US origin books. I also hear that govt subsidies would have to be eliminated gradually and International standard labor practices would have to be implemented etc etc. It's altogether a vague idea based on several columnists' idea of the previously talked about SOFA and TIFA frameworks.

TICFA will also take away Bangladesh right to negotiate based on WTO rule of preference. Instead, Bangladesh trade negotiation capability will reduced to US will. And we have seen - after 20 some years of negotiation Bangladesh did not get duty free access in US market. Those who are jumping on TICFA and US will take Bangladesh to somewhere are utterly misinformed and doing disservice to others. US has solidly incorporated indian wish list about Bangladesh in its policy. Indian born or us born indians are deputed at the helm of South Asia desk and deputy mission chief in Dhaka.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Oh crap...

What has I done? "><

 

[Skies]

What are the salient features of TICFA? What are the implications?? It looks like cracked Microsoft CDs would no longer be available along with Nilkhet photocopies of US origin books. I also hear that govt subsidies would have to be eliminated gradually and International standard labor practices would have to be implemented etc etc. It's altogether a vague idea based on several columnists' idea of the previously talked about SOFA and TIFA frameworks.

Below I've quoted the negative aspects of TICFA for BD, someone can point out the positive aspects to compare.

According to the treaty Bangladesh will be obliged to remove all obstacles for the US multinational companies, including any obstacle relating to tax. Bangladesh must repeal all conservative laws that prioritize and give privilege to local industries and companies over foreign companies. The treaty will provide protection for the US investors and Bangladesh must allow them to operate in the fuel, gas, electricity, port, telecommunication, education, health, and transportation sectors among others. So, if this agreement is signed then the service sector will go totally under the control of US multinational companies and the government will have no power over it. The local companies will suffer. The foreign companies will increase the prices of services and products tremendously to make profit. The prices in telecommunication, electricity, gas, water, medical services, education, and port services will multiply. The poor and ordinary people will suffer the most.

Section 18 provides that Bangladesh will have to comply with the Doha Agenda and decrease the subsidies in the agricultural sector and adopt free market policies. By complying with the Doha Agenda Bangladesh currently cannot provide more than 5 percent subsidy in the agriculture sector whereas the US itself gives 19 percent subsidy for agriculture in its land. The US is adopting very conservative policies for its own but forcing developing countries like Bangladesh to adopt liberal policies. The US is saying that after signing the treaty US investments in this country will increase many fold and we will be able to export more. But the main problem in exporting to the US market is the tax. China is exporting to the US for far less tax (3 percent) than Bangladesh (15.3 percent) even though it did not sign the TICFA.

The US is adopting very conservative policies for its own but forcing developing countries like Bangladesh to adopt liberal policies. The US is saying that after signing the treaty US investments in this country will increase many fold and we will be able to export more. But the main problem in exporting to the US market is the tax. China is exporting to the US for far less tax (3 percent) than Bangladesh (15.3 percent) even though it did not sign the TICFA

If this treaty is given effect then Bangladesh will have to implement the patent laws before 2016, which will threaten the agricultural, pharmaceutical, and computer software sectors among many others. The WTO patent agreement allows leniency for Bangladesh. Bangladesh can have this benefit of not having to comply with patent laws for services and commodities until 2013 and for the pharmaceutical sector this will be allowed until 2016. This time will most likely be extended.

The USA has signed trade and investment framework agreements with a large number of the relatively small developing countries and economic blocs. None of the large emerging countries, Argentina, Brazil, China or India, have such agreements with the USA and the only developed countries to sign TIFA are Iceland, Switzerland and New Zealand. All these agreements are of a similar format with about one-half of the agreement devoted to a preamble and the other half to articles. The preamble is a statement of good intentions and objectives, while the articles contain what the parties actually agree to do.

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/bangla...fa-agreement-usa-loss-gain.html#ixzz2eKgncVGw