The government will request India to withdraw anti-dumping duty imposed on import of jute goods from Bangladesh, officials said.
The Bangladesh Tariff Commission (BTC) has already prepared a required brief for reviewing the decision with the Indian authorities as per the directions of the textiles and jute ministry, they added.
The government is sincerely trying to resolve the problem seeking a proper review of the decision, a high official of the commerce ministry told the FE.
"We will request India to consider withdrawal of anti-dumping duty on jute products in a context of excellent bilateral relations that exist between the two countries," he also said.
Bangladesh is likely to take a move through diplomatic or political channel to convince the Indian authority that imposition of the duty on jute products hit hard Bangladesh's export earnings from its neighbouring country, according to a BTC source.
Besides, Bangladeshi exporters may request Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties, India (DGAD) for mid-term review as per the provision of the existing act and rules of India, he said.
On January 05 this year, Indian finance ministry imposed anti-dumping duty on jute products, imported from Bangladesh, ranging from US$ 19.30 to $ 351.72 a tonne.
The duty was imposed on jute goods for a period of five years following an investigation carried out by DGAD into an alleged dumping of jute products in the Indian market by Bangladeshi exporters, a commerce ministry source said.
DGAD received an application from Indian Jute Mills Association for the initiation of anti-dumping investigation into import of jute products (jute yarn/twine, jute sacking bags and hessian fabric) originating in or exported from Bangladesh and Nepal, he added.
The investigation was conducted during the period between April 01, 2014 and March 31, 2015 with injury analysis covering the period from 2011-12 to the period of investigation.
There was no reason for dumping jute goods from Bangladesh in India. The anti-dumping investigation is very complex and requires quality data to be maintained by the exporters and technical expertise to defend the case, a high official of the textiles and jute ministry said.
But Bangladeshi exporters have limited expertise, he added.
Bangladesh, as a least developed country, is yet to have necessary capacity, experience and expertise to defend such investigation. On the other hand, imposition of anti-dumping duty is creating confusion among the businessmen.
"The government is working to resolve the issue of anti-dumping duty," public relations officer of BTC Md Shariful Islam told the FE on Thursday.
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Source: The Financial Express