Page 24 - February-March-2019
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                   Egypt's cotton exports                                                                                        Cotton arrival shows 6.8pc decrease




                   up 45% in Q1 2018-19                                                                                            Seed cotton (Phutti) equivalent to over 10,741,381   showing a decrease of 9.34 per cent. Sindh ginneries


                                                                                                                                   bales of cotton has reached ginneries across
                                                                                                                                                                                     recorded arrival of 4,149,063 bales while last year Sindh
                                                                                                                                   Pakistan in March, showing a decrease of 6.8 per
                                                                                                                                                                                     compared to corresponding period of last year.
                                                                                                                                   cent as compared to corresponding period last year   received 4,253,258 bales with 2.45 per cent less as
            The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and    the country.                                                         when ginneries received 11,524,581 bales.
            Statistics (CAPMAS) in its quarterly newsletter for the                                                                                                                  Textile mills had bought 9,433,830 bales while
            first quarter of 2018-19 said that cotton exports from   In December last year, the Egyptian government                PCGA said that fortnightly report revealed that   exporters bought 102,330 bales and total bales sold
            Egypt increased to 128,300 metric quintals during   appointed an official steering committee to safeguard              ginneries in Punjab recorded arrival of 6,592,318   out so far were calculated at 9,536,160 bales. Total
            September-November 2018, registering an increase   the future of the Egyptian cotton brand. Egyptian                   bales against the last year arrival of 7,271,323 bales   1,205,221 bales were lying unsold, PCGA informed.
            of 45.1 per cent over exports made during the     cotton fibers are considered by many to be the best
            corresponding period of the previous agricultural year.  because of their length, strength, and softness.
                                                              The new steering committee, appointed by the
            The consumption of cotton in the domestic market,   minister of trade & industry, is responsible for the
            however, fell to 25,700 metric quintals during the   licensing and promotion of Egyptian cotton globally,
            period under review, showing a fall of 42.2 per cent   as well as policing the integrity of the supply chain to
            year-on-year. The sharp drop in domestic          ensure full compliance, traceability, and
            consumption was due to suspension of              transparency. The Cotton Egypt Association (CEA) is
            manufacturing activities by some textile factories in   also a part of the new structure.
                                                                                                                                       The negative impact of US


                                                                                                                                              withdrawal of GSP on


                         Bangladesh seeks tariff                                                                                          India’s garment exports



                 benefits for increased cotton


                                    imports from US                                                                                  The U.S. government has decided to withdraw     According to the Apparel Export Promotion Council
                                                                                                                                     trade concessions granted to India under the
                                                                                                                                                                                     (AEPC), the US imports $586.58 million worth of
                                                                                                                                     Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The
                                                                                                                                                                                     RMG products under 15 categories that currently
                                                                                                                                     programme, which allows duty-free entry for certain   enjoy GSP. India's share of this pie is $17.97 million.
              If the American government offers duty benefits for   (BTMA), Bangladesh imports nearly 8 million bales                products into the U.S. market, has benefited both
              apparel items manufactured of American cotton,   of cotton from across the world annually, of which                    countries, as shown by the growing volume of    The MFN (most favored nation) tariff in 15 products
              Bangladesh will import more cotton from the     6.93% is from the USA. According to international                      trade over the years.                           varies from 0.86 per cent to 14.6 percent in which
              United States.                                  trade administrator Otexa’ data, Bangladesh                                                                            India gets duty access with 100 percent margin of
                                                              exports to the US market stood at $5.20 billion, up                    The plan to end the preferential trade status   preference.
              BGMEA president Mr Siddiqur Rahman made the     by 5.72% in January-November of 2018. Apparel                          granted to India by US President Mr Donald Trump
              proposal at a meeting with the US Ambassador to   exports to the US market saw a 6% jump to $5                         may have negative impact on textile exports from   It may be noted that these 15 products contribute
              Bangladesh, Mr Earl R Miller, at the trade body’s   billion in the period.                                             the country.                                    to only 0.46% of India’s apparel exports. The bulk
              headquarters. In addition, BGMEA informed the                                                                                                                          of the benefit is concentrated on Woven silk
              ambassador that Bangladeshi spinners are keen to   But during the talks, he assured the ambassador                     According to the Industry experts, while the impact   dresses for women, which make up 58.5 percent of
              set up spinning mills in the USA, if the US     that Bangladesh has met all the 16 conditions                          would be marginal, under the current            India's total trade under GSP. India exported goods
              government would grant tariff benefits for RMG   attached for the restoration of GSP trade facilities.                 circumstances it would not be good as exports are   worth $6.2 bn in 2018 under the GSP, the highest
              made with yarn imported from such factories in the   He added, the business leader also said that the                  already dropping. They have also said Centre    since 1997. However, the GSP’s share in India’s
              USA.                                            duty free market access will ultimately benefit US                     should compensate the price increase through
                                                              consumers and increase bilateral trade as well as                      subsidy or incentives and should learn from the US   total exports to the U.S. has come down recently
              According to Bangladesh Textile Mills Association   help Bangladesh in creating jobs.                                  when it comes to protectionism.                 after peaking in the mid-2000s.


                February/March 2019                                                                                                                                                                       February/March 2019
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