United States (US) President Barack Obama on Thursday cut off longtime US trade benefits for Bangladesh in a largely symbolic response to dangerous conditions in the country’s garment industry that have in the past year gulped more than 1,200 lives.
“I have determined that it is appropriate to suspend Bangladesh … because it is not taking steps to afford internationally recognised worker rights to workers in the country,” Obama said in a statement.
The US sanction does not directly affect Bangladesh’s multi-billion dollar clothing exports to the US, which came under scrutiny after the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory building in April that killed 1,129 people and the Tazreen factory fire in November that killed 112.
However, it could influence the European Union (EU) to take similar action, which would have a much bigger impact on Bangladesh and its garment sector.
“This was not a decision taken lightly,” new US Trade
Representative Michael Froman told reporters on a phone call.
“Our goal, of course, is not only to see Bangladesh restore its eligibility for (the trade) benefits, but to see Bangladeshi workers in safe, appropriate work situations,” he said.
