Europe and Pakistan had expected a long-announced plan for trade preferences for textile makers to be approved during a meeting of trade diplomats in Geneva this week, but a Bangladeshi complaint halted the move.
Pakistan was being granted the beneficial import conditions as an aid measure following devastating floods last year.
Bangladeshi officials said their Pakistani counterparts had “unofficially” raised the matter on the sidelines of an ongoing South Asian leaders’ summit on this remote Maldivian atoll.
“I will check with Geneva ... as far as I know we are supposed to withdraw this (complaint),” Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes said.
“There has been some informal discussion on this here with the Pakistani officials,” he said.
“They have asked us unofficially about it and we have told them we are checking and will get back to them. So discussions are on to find out a way.”
Islamabad called Dhaka’s objections to the beneficial import conditions “an accident”. “Of course, we are very concerned about it. We have been conveyed by them that it was at best an accident,” Hina Rabbani Khar, the foreign minister, said.
Bangladesh had concerns about the impact of the European measures, which would make it easier for Pakistan to export textiles to Europe. Bangladesh competes with Pakistan for textile sales to the European market.
The two-year cut in tariffs offered by the EU would be a small boost for Pakistan’s exporters. As a least developed country, Bangladesh enjoys quota and duty-free access to EU countries, unlike Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2011.
COMMENTS (88)
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@M Bilal: Mr Billal would appreciate if u do not use the words like dude whils addressing to a stranger like I.
@M Ali Khan:
How is it that so many other Pakistanis posting comments here have not been able to figure out the simple logic of International trade that you have so lucidly expressed?
@a m malik: U can keep the sanity to yourself and leave the rest to us. am Ok fine. We will keep the sanity to ourselves and leave the rest (insanity) to you. As you wish, Mr. Malik :)
some people dont relise BD is getting duty free access but Pakistan is not, Thats unfair. If BD manufacturing is so good why does it need subsidies? Not suprised no one actually read article before posting.
There is simple analysis of this dilemma that is, Comparative Advantage(bengladesh)-Concession(Pakistan)=International Trade Success
bangla textiles rock.
@optimist: How true, you are natural allies.You just don't blow yourself up, you also take hoards of others fellow muslims along.
@Azharuddin Masood
pakistan denim is superior in quality and know how of finishing techniques.
@Khan: Mr. Khan, the terminology Ummah is used by every one for their petty political gains. So I am not really sure why you are so much angered at the right wing leaders... and that's exactly why I believe that Ummah thing should not be brought into International trade affairs.
Hello, Although it is strategic move from "Banglas" but i would say they have not yet come out of their complexes.......
@ Bangladeshi
Love your thinking. / Bangladeshis in London are closer to Pakistanis as they have seen the Indian discrimination/ arrogant attitudes. / We have so much in common. When I need to ask about Eid, I will ask Bangladeshi Muslim, not Indian Hindu (with due respect for Hindus/human beings). Muslims have much more in common and we are natural allies.
Bangladesh is enjoying an unnecessary advantage as a least developed country with no tax on their products which in it self is not fair. Pakistan should ban all raw cotton exports to Bangladesh and also stop all imports from bangladesh.
@ashok sai: Grow up and move from Strategic depth. This is not about Afghanistan. You only see dreams day and night Strategic Depth. You did not even read ehat this new is all about. Shame on you Indian.
I hope Balochistan also approves of this EU offer to Pakistan,
@Chulbul Pandey: U can keep the sanity to yourself and leave the rest to us. am
@Abdullah: And who is going from from that???
@zalim singh: Please don't stir of dirt, 1971 was a tragedy for both sides, no one got away unscathed . Should I bring up op at golden temple by indira? What's the point? Pakistani people are not proud of that episode and we don't defend the wrong actions, do you have the courage to blame India for Sikh and Kashmiri killings?
I have always had warm feelings for Bengalis despite what happened, but this does not seem an accident, this was very unfortunate , Pakistan always helped Bangla when floods hit or whatever, but this hurts, please get over 1971, new generation of Pakistanis are very loving and giving society.
bengalis want to take revenge for 1971.
@Mirza: There is no dearth of friends for Pakistan but one should not expect even the closest friend to sacrifice its national interest for the sake of some one else's national interest.
WE are Muslim Ummah. We should cooperate with Bangladesh. Think for all Muslim Nations.
@Balma: "Control the population explosion or Pakistan will next be Rwanda and Somalia"
Well now Somalia is number 1 and Rwanda is 34, while Pakistan is 12, so they are in good company on the list of failed states !!!!
@a m malik: "Wonder why Turkey was and is kept out of the EU even though its economy is robust against many other EU countries. Was it not the Greek PM who once remarked that we cannot accept a Muslim country in the heartland of Europe".. Based on your logic, India with higher muslim population than most of the muslim countries should have been part of OIC..but it didn't happen right? So don't complain, forget abt Turkey and worry abt your country's future..
Thanks BD............................... Beware of Indian's moves.................
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Can you possibly guarantee their Safety & Security first??? Could you also provide them basic Electricity??? When you can provide these basic requirements for any person within your country, then perhaps Foreign Buyers mat be tempted to conduct business!!!!
@Chulbul. My friend, in pakistan there is no limit, you can be as insane and stupid as you want. In this banana republic you can look at yourself in mirror and yell outloud," this is some indian agent in the sheesha" and those listening to your screams will also join you in believing what your are seeing in the mirror.
Actually the current AL GOV which came to power with Indian Support is a complete PUPPET of India. SO its natural that a anti-Bangladeshi Party like AL will oppose PAK in Favour of their masters. We also have duty free acess to EU and so should PAK but what can we do when india has its grip all over us. Insahallah we Bangladeshis will see better DAYs between PAK & BD after 2013 and i just hope that day come soon. And by the way I am a muslim Bengali bangladeshi & proud of my country and favour muslim brotherhood above all other things.
Ya Allah Khair. Ya rabb tune Muslim Ummah ik baar phir bachha lee. Bangladesh will take back the opposition.
Pakistani textiles are the best in the world.
I want that EU textile buyers should have setup their offices in Karachi to buy the textile garments or can order to make according to the buyers requirement in EU countries.
There are lot of places available for the EU textile importers to have their own factories in Karachi from where they can buy the raw material and the local workers can help them out in made to order textile garments, the quality can be checked and inspected in Karachi before the shipment is sent to EU countries.
@khurram kaleem: The denim fabric quality can never be superior in technology but it can be superior in quality.
BD has a right to safeguard the interest of their citizen, which heavily relies on EU exports. But they must have forgot that they themselves are enjoying a special status in EU market. "*some-poor-under-developed status", through which they have flooded EU with their textile goods. So how about dropping that status, and competing directly.
At the outset I have not been able to understand the inclusion of India BD etc.in the EU concessions abinitio. Where were we and why were we denied the entry before in the first instance? As of now - yes national interests do exist but so do the emotional attachments on a common pitch. Wonder why Turkey was and is kept out of the EU even though its economy is robust against many other EU countries. Was it not the Greek PM who once remarked that we cannot accept a Muslim country in the heartland of Europe. What common factors do India and Israel have? Why are innocents being droned almost on daily basis ? Would the Americans do such horrifics on any of the westerners?Do I have to mention about Kashmir ,Palestine and draw a parallel with East Taimur?
As such the gory action has been taken by Hasina wajid and her close in friends /cronies. So far an average BD is concerened I am positive that he would be against such a move am
@a m malik: @syed baqar ahsan: This is shocking. You are blaming India for this? There has got to be a limit of insanity!
Smart diplomatic move by Bharat through Sh Hasina.
@Rational Mind: There is more poverty in Bangladesh let them have it all
Well ,stay with this illusion for much longer, and watch them overtake you within next decade economically !!!!
@Umer Farooq: Nothing. I can understand you are used to Bheek, so it would be better that you explicitly ask for bheek. I am sure Bangladesh can feed you.
If you cant compete then dont adopt these shameful means and then talk about being a proud pakistani. It is because of Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal that you get this deal. So whatever you have is afterall what somome has given you. Be Ashamed, Be VERY Ashamed!
All of you forgetting the real culprit the EU in this dirty game. If EU really wants to help Pakistani flood victims, then who stopped it from giving cash or direct aid? Why make India, Bangladesh or for that matter any other country loose revenue to pay indirectly to Pakistan? This is akin to stealing from India and Bangladesh's pockets to pay Pakistan. Now Pakistanis are foolishly blaming Bangladesh and India whereas the real culprit the EU stands aloof and smiling at naivety of us subcontinentals.
@Tanzeel,
Actually Bangladesh is not justified, Bangladesh is already a beneficiary of duty free access to EU, under GSP+ status. Pakistani textiles on the other hand have to face duty when being imported into EU.
We are so used to being given handouts and alms in the form of 'foreign aid' that we forget that global trade is actually a very highly competitive and fast-changing part of the world economy.
Don't expect the world to give us any "concessions" when our own industries and manufacturers are afraid of ingenuity, change, and revolutionising themselves and their practices.
Bangladesh has every right to complain about this, and they have a fast-growing industry based on their own hard work and specialisation that adds value to the final product while we keep on relying on govt subsidies and WTO-EU favours to help our comical industries get ahead.
Stop being lazy and start being ambitious!
There is more poverty in Bangladesh let them have it all
Trade restrictions are in essence racist and a barrier to equality and freedom.
It's time we stop seeing everything that doesn't agree with Pakistan as a hidden agenda. Each nation's national and economic interests are of the highest priority. Bangladesh is doing the same.
This is all about our govt policies. congrats. s h a m e.
Bangladesh is justified. Play fair in trade.
@Ali: Hang on brother, there is nothing to do with Muslim Ummah thing here. This is a sensitive point so donot drag this into it just to make some humor.
@Anwar: Get out of the fantasy world dude... International trade is lot more practical than your thinking.
Why so much of hue and cry? BD is right in making this move. Our govt. should better be taking steps to assuage other problems faced here in our own homeland by our exporters instead of looking for out of the way favor of EU.
Bangladesh is forgetting what Pakistan has done for their education system and industry. Yet they oppose Pakistan. Let them try.
Today is the most brutal day in the glorious history of UMMAH. May Allah have taken my life before letting me see this painful day. ET TU BANGLADESH, THEN LET PAKISTAN FALL
Pakistan should take measures to abort supply of yarn to bangladesh
we are suppplying them raw material .our denim fabric is far superior in technology and we are dumping denim to dacca .this is textiles canibalism
Hats off to Muslim Brotherhood and long buried one-nation theory.
Makes sense, after what u guys did to them in 1971. Its just a wrap on your knuckles.
@antanu g: true, but remember the same when India replace Bangladesh.
C'mon, people, its trade. No emotions involved in business. BD economy is heavily dependent on textile export to EU, if Pakistan gets the piece of pie, someone has to losethat particular piece of pie and that with out doubt would be BD. Thats all it is about, not that they are not your brothers anymore. You people need to read circumstances as they are, not the way you want, distorted.
@Arindom: agree with you
"Ah you Brutus too"
This is all about national interests. Bangladesh truly cannot afford this. Same to a lesser extent with India but as has been rightly said India gave away some concessions. I wonder what India got in return ?
So British were right to consider Bengalis as unreliable, short tempered not so trustworthy as to me employed or made partners in political future of British India?
Nopw even your sibling, has started objecting to any favours for Pakistan !!!!
International trade is no Charity!!!
Brotherhood anybody?
Why we always seek mercy and always stand dependent on others for prosperity, we should make our way and should work on enhancing the quality and lowering the product cost to increase our trade.it includes all measures ranging from lowering corruption rate and energy prices for industry.Pakistan in itself is a market of 180 million people,which is reduced to approx 1 million because of poverty.
what can you expect from them
We should work hard on our quality and should compete in market;Why we are always at mercy of others for our prosperity;Long live Pakistan
BD has a point. If exceptions are made, where do you draw the line? Countries have to compete on level terms if WTO has to work. Pakistan's financial woes started the day they decided to own nukes. These are not toys for nations with a weak economy.
Whatever India wanted to do and could not do for the sake of MFN, it has got it done through Bangladesh. Present Bangladesh Govt. is an Indian puppet Govt. However Pakistan should not react out of proportion and try to remove Bangladesh's concerns through diplomatic contacts.
This is what you will get when you bury your head in sand in the name strategic depth and strategic assets, first Iran, now followed by Bangladesh. Hope this teaches some lessons to the deep state and enable civilians to look towards economy and welfare of the citizens.
You guys take it wrong, it was out of brotherhood for the betterment of muslim UMMAH:)
Does Pakistan have any friends, not even Bangladesh or Iran? Looks like we have lost all our friends.
nice ummah
Will the Pakistanis now realise that objection to EU concessions is not a Indo-Pak or religious issue but a trade related issue of individual country's self interests?
Huh...what itches BD...???
Our very own manufacturers have moved a lot of factories to Bangladesh. They are also in a position to influence Bangladesh to save their investment. Provide electricity only, Pakistan textile can still compete well with the world.
Maybe the jihadi groups in Kashmir should protest Bangladesh's uncompetitive practices which hurt Pakistani livelihoods instead of protesting MFN status for India.