The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) urged the US government to support and collaborate to ensure fair minimum prices for apparel manufactured in the country. The association also urged for the establishment of a unified code of conduct for social audits.

These demands were raised by SM Mannan Kochi, President, BGMEA during a meeting between the association and a delegation from the US Trade Representative (USTR) at the BGMEA Complex in Dhaka on April 22. The 

BGMEA also urged the US government to reinstate the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) in favor of Bangladesh and include garment items in its GSP program.

Led by Brendan Lynch, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, the USTR delegation included Emily Ashby, Director - South and Central Asia, USTR and Jennifer Oetken, Director for Labor Affairs, USTR, etc.

The BGMEA delegation was led President SM Mannan Kochi, along with other key officials such as Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Senior Vice President and Md Nasir Uddin, Vice President-Finance.

During the meeting, Mannan highlighted the significant progress made by Bangladesh's RMG industry in ensuring workplace safety, workers' rights, and ongoing labor law reforms. He emphasised the commitment of both the Bangladeshi government and the industry to further improve workers' rights and welfare.

While acknowledging Bangladesh's progress in the labor sector, the USTR delegates briefed the meeting about the US government's labor action plan and areas where further improvements, including amendments in the labor laws, are necessary.

The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration and engagement in making the ready-made garment industry more sustainable. Both parties expressed their commitment to ongoing dialogue and cooperation towards achieving these goals.