OP43

THE EU-EBA INITIATIVE: MARKET ACCESS IMPLICATIONS AND
POTENTIAL BENEFITS FOR BANGLADESH
Occasional Paper No: 43
Prepared By
Debapriya Bhattacharya
Mustafizur Rahman
Ananya Raihan
October, 2004
Centre for Policy Dialogue

House No 40/C, Road No 11 (new), Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1209
Mailing Address: GPO Box 2129, Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh
Tel: (880 2) 8124770; Fax: (880 2) 8130951; E-mail: cpd@bdonline.com
Website: www.cpd-bangladesh.org
CPD Occasional paper series 43
CONTENTS
List of Tables and Figures………………………………………………………………… ii

Acknowledgement ........................................................................................................................... iv
List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................................. v
Section 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1
Section 2: Bangladesh’s Preferential Market Access in the EU:

The Old and the Newly Introduced EU-EBA................................................ 2
Bangladesh and the EC- GSP Schemes............................................................................................ 2

Departures in the New Market Access Initiatives by the EU .......................................................... 5
Section 3: Impact of EU-EBA for Bangladesh’s Export Sector ...................................... 9
Implications of the EU-EBA for Bangladesh’s Existing Export Products ..................................... 9

Impact of EU-EBA: Results from A Static GEF Exercise.............................................................. 11
Policy Simulations to Capture Static Impact.................................................................................... 12
EU-EBA Initiative and Potential Gains for Bangladesh Based on the
Simulation Exercise ................................................................................................................. 13
Identifying the Newly-inducted Products in the EBA ..................................................................... 15
Section 4: Bangladesh’s Export Potentials in View of the

EU-EBA: Price Level and Competitiveness ................................................. 18
Bangladesh’s Export of Newly Included Products in the EBA List ............................................... 18

New Items with Export Potentials in the EU Market: Post-EBA Export........................................ 20
Export Potential and Export Capacity: Competition and Competitors ........................................... 21
Section 5: Items with Export Potential and Bangladesh’s

Production Capacity and Supply Side Issues ................................................ 27
Export Opportunities and Production Capacity ............................................................................... 27

Agro-Processing Base and Export Potential .................................................................................... 29
Section 6: Rules of Origin and SPS-TBT Requirements for Exporting Products

to the EU Market .......................................................................................... 35
Rules of Origin and the EU-EBA ..................................................................................................... 35

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures .............................................................................................. 37
Section 7: Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Needs ....................................... 40
Supply Side Constraints and TA Needs ........................................................................................... 40
Section 8: Concluding Remarks ......................................................................................... 45
References ........................................................................................................................................ 47
The EU-EBA Initiative i

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
TABLES
TABLE 2.1: COMPARISON OF AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS BY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

IN 2001 ................................................................................................................................. 8
TABLE 3.1: EU-EBA: NEW TARIFF LINES INCLUDED UNDER THE INITIATIVE OF
LIBERALISATION.............................................................................................................. 9
TABLE 3.2: CURRENT EXPORTS OF LDCs TO THE EU THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY
THE EU-EBA ....................................................................................................................... 10
TABLE 3.3: PRODUCT AGGREGATION FOR SIMULATION ANALYSIS....................................... 12
TABLE 3.4: EU-EBA: IMPACT ON AGGREGATE EXPORT BY REGION........................................ 13
TABLE 3.5: EU-EBA: IMPACT ON BANGLADESH'S EXPORT TO EU ............................................ 15
TABLE 3.6: EXPECTED CHANGE IN THE VARIOUS ECONOMIC INDICATORS AS A
RESULT OF THE EU-EBA................................................................................................. 15
TABLE 3.7: PRE-EBA (2001) EU DUTIES ON SELECTED NEWLY INCLUDED ITEMS OF
BD’S INTEREST ................................................................................................................. 16
TABLE 3.8: BANGLADESH’S EXPORT TO THE EU IN 2001 AND EFFECTIVE GAINS
UNDER THE EU-EBA INITIATIVE .................................................................................. 17
TABLE 4.1: NUMBER, VALUE AND VOLUME OF BANGLADESH’S EXPORT ITEMS
NEWLY INCLUDED IN EU-EBA LIST............................................................................. 18
TABLE 4.2: BANGLADESH’S EXPORTS OF TOP 7 PRODUCTS IN 2001 WHICH WERE
NEWLY INCLUDED UNDER THE EU-EBA.................................................................... 18
TABLE 4.3: IMPORT BY EU OF BANGLADESH’S NEWLY INCLUDED ITEMS IN 2001 ............. 19
TABLE 4.4: AVERAGE PRICE OF BD’S NEWLY INCLUDED ITEMS IN 2001 IN THE EU
MARKET ............................................................................................................................. 19
TABLE 4.5: IMPORT BY EU OF BD’S NEWLY INCLUDED ITEMS IN 2002................................... 20
TABLE 4.6: IMPORT OF SUGAR, SOLID AND SUGAR SYRUP (HS 17029099) BY EU IN
2000 ...................................................................................................................................... 21
TABLE 4.7: IMPORT OF PRE-COOKED RICE (HS 19049010) BY EU IN 2000................................. 22
TABLE 4.8: IMPORT OF WHOLLY MILLED RICE (HS 10063094) BY EU IN 2000......................... 22
TABLE 4.9: IMPORT OF GARLIC (HS 07032000) BY EU IN 2000 ..................................................... 23
TABLE 4.10: IMPORT OF BEET MOLASSES (HS 17039000) BY EU IN 2000 .................................... 23
TABLE 4.11: TARIFF RATES ON IMPORT OF POULTRY PRODUCTS AND EGG ITEMS IN
THE EU IN 2000 .................................................................................................................. 24
TABLE 4.12: IMPORT OF POULTRY PRODUCTS AND EGG ITEMS BY THE EU IN 2000 ............ 24
TABLE 4.13: REVISED IMPORT DUTIES ON RICE AND BROKEN RICE......................................... 25
TABLE 4.14: REVISED DUTIES CURRENTLY APPLICABLE TO IMPORTS OF WHITE
SUGAR, RAW SUGAR AND PRODUCTS........................................................................ 25
TABLE 4.15: SCHEDULE FOR TARIFF REDUCTION FOR LDC EXPORTS OF RICE...................... 25
The EU-EBA Initiative ii

TABLE 4.16: EXPANSION OF QUOTA ON EXPORT OF RICE FROM LDCs..................................... 26

TABLE 5.1: EXPORT FROM BANGLADESH TO WORLD OF SELECTED ITEMS IN 2001 ........... 27
TABLE 5.2: EXPORT FROM BANGLADESH TO THE EU OF SELECTED ITEMS IN 2001 ........... 27
TABLE 5.3: PRODUCTION OF SELECTED CROPS IN BANGLADESH ........................................... 28
TABLE 5.4: WEIGHT OF AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY IN BANGLADESH INDUSTRIAL
SECTOR ............................................................................................................................... 29
TABLE 5.5: STRUCTURE OF AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY ................................................................. 30
TABLE 6.1: GSP UTILISATION RATE OF BANGLADESH’S AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS
TO EU................................................................................................................................... 36
TABLE 6.2: CHANGES IN THE EC RULES OF ORIGIN ..................................................................... 37
TABLE 6.3: BANGLADESH EXPORTS FACING NTMS IN THE EU................................................. 38
FIGURES
FIGURE 1: EU'S IMPORT FROM BANGLADESH AND BANGLADESH'S SHARE IN

TOTAL IMPORTS OF EU COUNTRIES ...................................................................... 3
FIGURE 2: BANGLADESH'S EXPORT SHARE BY DESTINATION IN FY2003 ........................ 4
ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................ 49
ANNEX TABLE 1: TITLES OF SELECTED TARIFF LINES ............................................................. 50

ANNEX TABLE 2: BANGLADESH’S EXPORT TO EU OF THE INCLUDED NEWLY
ITEMS: VALUE, VOLUME AND UNIT PRICE ............................................... 51
ANNEX TABLE 3: TARIFF AND SPECIFIC DUTIES ON BANGLADESH’S NEWLY
INCLUDED EXPORT ITEMS UNDER EU-EBA ................................................ 53
ANNEX TABLE 4: POULTRY PRODUCTS AND EGG ITEMS IN THE EU-EBA AND MFN
TARIFF .................................................................................................................. 54
ANNEX TABLE 5: IMPORT OF POULTRY PRODUCTS AND EGG ITEMS IN 2000 .................... 55
ANNEX TABLE .6: IMPORT DUTIES ON RICE AND BROKEN RICE ............................................ 56
ANNEX TABLE 7: DUTIES APPLICABLE TO IMPORTS OF WHITE SUGAR, RAW
SUGAR AND PRODUCTS ................................................................................... 57
The EU-EBA Initiative iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The CPD study team would like to put on record its deep appreciation of the
exceptionally competent research support received from Mr. Wasel Bin Shadat, Mr.
Kazi Mahmudur Rahman and Mr. Syed Saifuddin Hossain, all Research Associates at
the CPD and Mr. Shahinur Rahman, Programme Associate, CPD. The study team
would like to express its appreciation of the able support of Mr Mabroor Mahmood,
Senior Research Associate, CPD in giving the report its final shape. The team would
also like to express its sincere appreciation of the able secretarial support received
from Mr. A.H.M. Ashrafuzzaman.
The study team would like to put on record its deep appreciation of the useful insights
received from discussions with the various trade bodies and business associations in
the course of preparing the present report. The study team has also received useful
comments from participants of the “National Export Training Programme” organised
by the EPB during March 03-04, 2004, where the preliminary findings of the study
were presented. The team would particularly like to thank Mr. Zillul Hye Razi,
Economic and Information Officer, European Commission office, Dhaka for his very
helpful cooperation in accessing relevant EU-trade data and information.
The EU-EBA Initiative iv

LIST OF ACRONYMS
AC African, Caribbean countries

ACP African, Caribbean and Pacific countries
ADD Anti Dumping Duty
AGOA African Growth Opportunity Act
AMCL Agricultural Marketing Co. Ltd.
AoA Agreement on Agriculture
APEDA Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations
ATDP Agro-based Technology Development Project
BADC Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation
BARI Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
BDXDP Bangladesh Export Diversification Project
BSE Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
BSTI Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute
CAP Common Agricultural Policy
CBI Caribbean Basin Initiative
CBTPA Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act
CCP Critical Control Point
CET Constant Elasticity of Transformation
CGE Computable General Equilibrium
CPD Centre for Policy Dialogue
DCs Developing Countries
DME Developed Market Economy
DSM Dispute Settlement Mechanism
EBA Everything but Arms
EC European Commission
ECC EC Custom Code
ECU European Currency Unit
EEF Entreprenuers’ Equity Fund
EU European Union
F&V Fruit and Vegetables
FTA Free Trade Agreement
GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GEF General Equilibrium Framework
GMO Genetically Modified Organisms
GSP Generalized System of Preference
GTAP Global Trade Analysis Procedure
H/H House Hold
HACCP Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
HS Harmonized System
HSC Harmonized System of Coding
HYV High Yielding Variety
IF Integrated Framework
IFOAM International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
The EU-EBA Initiative v

IOAS International Organic Accreditation Service

ISO International Organization for Standardization
ITC International Trade Centre
JITAP Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme
LDCs Least Developed Countries
MFA Multi-Fiber Arrangement
MFN Most Favoured Nation
MGF Matching Grants Facilities
MHLW Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare
MLVs Maximum Limit Values
MOFA Ministry of Food and Agriculture
MOFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MT Metric Ton
NAFTA North American Free Trade Area
NGMA Negotiating Group on Market Access
NGOs Non-Government Organization
OCT Ontario College of Teachers
OECD Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development
PT Preferential Treatment
PTA Preferential Tariff Arrangement
QRs Quantitative Restrictions
RC Regional Cumulation
RCO Registered Certification Organization
RFCO Registered Foreign Certification Organization
RMG Ready Made Garments
RoO Rules of Origin
ROW Rest of the World
RTA Regional Trade Arrangement
S&DT Special and Differential Treatment
SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SAFTA South Asian Free Trade Area
SAPTA SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement
SMEs Small and Medium Enterprises
SPSMs Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Measures
STABEX Stabilization of Export Earnings for Agricultural Commodities
SYSMIN System for Safeguarding and Developing Mineral products
TBT Technical Barriers to Trade
TRQ Tariff Rate Quota
UNCTAD United Nation Conference on Trade and Development
UR Uruguay Round
USTDA United States Trade and Development Act
VAT Value Added Tax
WTO World Trade Organization
The EU-EBA Initiative vi

THE EU-EBA INITIATIVE: MARKET ACCESS IMPLICATIONS AND

POTENTIAL BENEFITS FOR BANGLADESH
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION
It is now generally widely recognised that in the 1990s Bangladesh has made a crucial
transition from a predominantly aid-dependent country into a trading country.
Bangladesh’s current annual export of goods and services is about six times higher than
the aid that is annually received. To compare, this was about one and half times in the
early 1990s. No wonder why trade related issues and initiatives command such
heightened attention in the context of the globalising economy of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh at present enjoys preferential market access facility under 29 GSP schemes
run by various developed market economies (DMEs). When the GATT talks were
initiated in 1947 it was recognised at the very outset that the developing countries were in
need of special and targeted market access facilities in order to enhance their competitive
strength in the global market and that there was a need to bridge the developmental gaps
with DMEs. Special and differential treatment (S&DT) provisions in the GATT were a
recognition of this felt need. Subsequently, a major tool of this special treatment of the
LDCs and developing countries which evolved outside the ambit of GATT’s institutional
structure, but was very much informed by the philosophy of GATT’s S&D treatment of
the developing countries, was the GSP schemes offered on bilateral basis by the various
DMEs and the EU (as a community of countries). Empirical evidences suggest that the
current share of preferential trade under generalised preferential treatment (GST) is
around 3 percent of global trade 1 [Bora B. et al., 2002].
Since its independence in 1971 when it was recognised as belonging to the group of
LDCs 2, Bangladesh has been enjoying preferential treatment under the various GSP
schemes. Although subject to Rules of Origin of varying degrees of stringency, these GSP
schemes offered two major benefits: (a) preferential market access in the form of reduced
(or zero) tariff for particular products, and (b) greater market access in the form of
enhanced quota or quota/ceiling free entry of particular products into domestic markets of
developed countries. As is known, these preferential market access schemes are
necessarily subject to various rules of origin (RoO) which are specific to individual GSP
schemes, and often also vary between products within a single GSP Scheme. Bangladesh
has been a beneficiary of the GSP scheme run by the EU since her independence.
In the recent past Bangladesh has become the beneficiary of the duty-free, quota-free
market access for all products except arms to the EU market under the EU’s Everything
but Arms Initiative for the LDCs. The initiative has subsequently come to be popularly
known as the EU-EBA initiative. The scheme, geared towards the LDCs, was important
initiative as far Bangladesh was concerned. Although Bangladesh was a beneficiary of the
GSP Scheme, which was offered earlier by the EU countries, the novelty of the new
initiative was that these included a large number of new products which were outside the
ambit of the previously in place GSP Scheme.
1
This share has been gradually coming down over the last decade as a result of “preference erosion”
following the completion of the UR negotiations and the expansion of the preferential trade within regional
trading blocs.
2
In contrast to the present number of 49 at the time the number of LDCs was 25.
The EU-EBA Initiative 1

The objective of the present study, in the above context is five fold: (a) to analyse the new
scheme and identify its departure from earlier scheme; (b) to identify products of
Bangladesh’s export interest which have come under the purview of the new scheme; (c)
to analyse the market access opportunities of the newly included products in the markets
of the EU; (d) to review the rules of origin SPS-TBT and other related regulations which
may potentially constrain Bangladesh’s market access of the identified products in the EU
market, and (e) to review the current supply side capacity in view of the opportunities and
suggest measures towards capacity building in relevant areas.
The following sections present the results of the analysis carried out to examine the
abovementioned points of enquiry. The findings of the study are presented in the
following seven sections. Section 2 analyses the departure of the EU-EBA initiative from
the earlier EU-GSP Scheme; Section 3 analyses the potential impacts of the EU-EBA
initiative on Bangladesh’s export performance; Section 4 attempts to judge Bangladesh’s
export potentials in terms of price level and competitivenss; Section 5 identifies some of
the potential items for export, and analyses Bangladesh’s supply capacity to exploit
export opportunities in those items; Section 6 describes the rules of origin and SBS-TBT
requirements for exporting products to the EU; Section 7 analyses the capacity building
and technical assistance issues, and Section 8 concludes.
SECTION 2 BANGLADESH’S PREFERENTIAL MARKET ACCESS IN THE EU:

THE OLD AND THE NEWLY INTRODUCED EU-EBA
Bangladesh and the EC GSP Schemes
The EU-GSP Scheme merits special attention mainly on account of the fact that the EU
has become the single most important destination for Bangladesh’s exports. This
importance was also because of the wide range of coverage under the EC-GSP Scheme 3.
Over the past years the EC-GSP Scheme played an important role in the growing
prominence of EU market for Bangladesh’s exports. Bangladesh’s exports to the 25
member countries of the expanded EU currently stand at US$3298.6 million (FY2003)
(see Figure 1), which was about half (50.4%) of Bangladesh’s global export $6548.4
million over the corresponding year. This explains why preferential access to the EU
market is of such crucial importance to Bangladesh. Major export destinations in the EU
include Germany ($819.9 million or 24.9% of Bangladesh’s total exports to the EU), UK
($771.1 million or 23.6%), France ($417.9 million or 12.7%), Italy, Belgium and the
Netherlands ($260.0 – $290.0 million, at about 8.4% each).
3
The European Union maintains both non-reciprocal and reciprocal trade arrangements that extend
preferential treatments to the members of such arrangements. Two important non-reciprocal preferential
trade arrangements are: Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) and ACP Scheme. The reciprocal trade
arrangements include various free trade agreements (FTAs) and the non-reciprocal preferential trade
arrangements is the EC-GSP Scheme.

Figure 1: EU's Imports from Bangladesh and Bangladesh's Share in Total

Imports of EU Countries
4000.00 0.350
3500.00 Export Share in EU 0.300
3000.00
0.250
Share (%) of BD
2500.00
Million ECU
0.200
2000.00
0.150
1500.00
0.100
1000.00
500.00
0.050
0.00 0.000
Year
The EC GSP Scheme, introduced in 1971, has gone through considerable evolution over
the past years since its inception. The first EC-GSP scheme covered an initial span of 10
years (1971-81) and was subsequently renewed for a second decade (1981-91). This was
extended for another four years, till 1995. A new GSP scheme was put in place in 1995
for another 4 years at the end of which the scheme was further revised in 1999. This
revised scheme was revised once again with expanded coverage for the LDCs in 2000, to
be effective from January 2001. It is this initiative which subsequently came to be known
as the ‘Everything but Arms’ (EBA) initiative of the EU.
The EC GSP Scheme which was in place before the EBA included products that were
divided into four groups according to their sensitivity. The sensitivity was determined by
the production situation relative to similar product within the EU. The EU GSP scheme
granted preference for a given product in the form of percentage reduction of the MFN
duty rates. An exception was made for the LDCs and some other countries 4, whereby the
treatment offered was more relaxed compared to the general rules, with the offered
reduction on products attaining levels as high as 100%. However, the EC GSP scheme
which was in place prior to the EU-EBA initiative, had two safeguard clauses that were
applicable to industrial as well as agricultural products. The first safeguard clause
provides that MFN duties on a particular product may be reintroduced at any point of
time, at the request of a member state or on Commission’s own initiative, if a product
originating in one of the countries or territories listed in annex III of the GSP Scheme
(normal developing countries) is imported on terms which cause or threaten to cause
serious difficulty to a community producer of like or directly competing products (Article
14, para 1, of the regulations). The second safeguard clause was in the form of a
graduation scheme under which the benefit of the scheme was phased out for specific
sectors or countries that have reached a degree of competitiveness where they were
considered to have competitive strength even in the context of denial of GSP treatment.
The product coverage of the EU GSP was the broadest amongst the GSP schemes offered
by DMEs. At HS8 level more than 9000 products were covered under the EU GSP
4
Countries negatively affected by drug production.

scheme. Since 1995 the EU also took an initiative to eliminate all quantitative restrictions
(QRs) on imports from the LDCs.
The newly introduced EBA initiative is informed by a number of departures. The

importance of the initiative is reemphasised by the fact that the EU market is the single
most important destination in terms of value of exports from Bangladesh and also the
LDCs as a group. In 1999 it absorbed 37 percent of total LDC export [UNCTAD, 2002].
Among the 49 LDCs, 15 are predominantly dependent on this market, since more than 50
percent of their respective export is directed to this market. Thirty-nine LDCs have
benefited from preferential market access under the ACP initiative of EU, while 9 LDCs
were beneficiaries under the EC-GSP scheme. Bangladesh is the most important
beneficiary amongst these beneficiary countries. As evident in Figure 2, in FY2003
Bangladesh’s export to EU was to the tune of $3275.6 mln, accounting for 50.0% of the
total exports from the country (48% in FY2001).
Figure 2: Bangladesh's Export Share by Destination in FY2003
ROW
17.1%
USA
32.9%
EU
50.0%
Source: CPD-TPA Database.
The EU-GSP Scheme previously in place provided Bangladesh zero-tariff access to the
EC market for most of her manufactured exports, subject to conformity with EC Rules of
Origin (RoO). A large number of products belonging to HS 1-25 were already covered
under the EC-GSP Scheme. Bangladeshi exports were also allowed quota-free entry into
the EU market for allowable products for which quotas were in place in the EU market.
However, the existing EC preferential regime still excluded about 10 per cent of the
10,500 tariff lines at HS 8 digit level which were included in the Community's tariff
schedule. Out of the 10500 tariff lines which are traded, 944 tariff lines were excluded
from the EC GSP Scheme prior to the introduction of the EBA initiative, accounting for
about 1% of total exports from the LDCs.
It is to be noted that amongst the developed countries and regions, EU offers the highest
range of preferential access to LDCs and developing countries. A total of 142 DCs and
LDCs are currently enjoying preferential market access under the EU-GSP schemes. 77
ACP countries also enjoy preferential market access in EU. However, the realised
preferential treatment enjoyed by the LDCs was substantially lower for most of these
countries because of their inability to comply with the EC-RoO discipline.

The idea about a more LDC-friendly preferential market access initiative was first mooted
at the time of the Singapore Ministerial of the WTO in 1999. At this ministerial the
developed countries committed themselves to work towards improved market access for
products from the LDCs. In June 2000, the EU expressed its willingness to grant duty-
free access for essentially all products from all the LDCs by 2005 at the latest. The
intention was further crystallised by subsequently formal announcement of the EU
whereby EU granted duty-free and quota-free access for all goods originating in the
LDCs, except arms, to be effective from January 1, 2001. The proposal read as the
following: “The Commission proposes to remove all tariffs and quotas on all imports
from LDCs other than those classified as armaments (those falling in Chapter 93 of the
Harmonised System of Trade Cassification). This will be achieved by amending the
current Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). It will come into effect for most
products from 1 January 2001, except for sugar, rice and bananas - for which the removal
of restrictions will be undertaken in three annual tranches, leading to their subsequent full
elimination by 1 January, 2009.” The EU-EBA came into force in March, 2001 and was
adopted as an amendment to the previously in place EC GSP scheme.
As mentioned, the EU-EBA provides quota-free access to the EU market. The concept of
‘quota’ as practised by the EU needs to be clarified to understand the actual worth of
quota-free access. Since the Uruguay Round, the quota on agricultural goods has been
eliminated in the EU as elsewhere. What regulates imports of farm products in the EU is
what is commonly known as tariff rate quotas (TRQ). As distinct from quota which puts
a ceiling on imports, a TRQ is a system where a particular tariff rate is imposed on import
of a farm product from abroad, up to a certain quantitative limit, beyond which imports
are also allowed, up to unlimited levels, but at higher tariff rates. At present there are
about 87 TRQs on farm products in the EU 5.
Thus quota-free access under EU is likely to provide a significant advantage mainly

because it will eliminate the higher tariffs beyond the quotas. It is interesting to note here
that third countries have been able to use only 67% of the TRQs each year which would
mean that it is not the TRQs themselves but the higher tariffs on farm goods in the EU
which has acted as a deterrent to potential exporters.
Departures in the New Market Access Initiatives by the EU
EU-EBA Initiative: What is New in It?
As was mentioned, EU is the pre-eminent trading partner of Bangladesh, accounting for

about 50 per cent of her total exports in FY2003; in contrast, the share of the USA was
about 32.9 per cent, during the matched period. 6 Thus, any initiative to facilitate market
access in the EU was bound to be of interest to Bangladesh.
There are several important points of departure as far as the EU-EBA initiative is
concerned. Firstly, through the EU-EBA EU has ensured WTO compatibility of its
preferential market scheme. Previously, through the Lome Convention, a group of
countries belonging to the African continent and also the Caribbean and Pacific region
5
These 87 TRQs are managed by the European Commission, on the basis of (a) first come first served basis
(20 TRQs) (b) licences (44 TRQs) and (c) historic imports (22 TRQs).
6
To compare, for LDCs as a group, EU accounted for 50% of all exports which was equivalent to 15.5 bln.
euro in 1998; share of USA was 36%, Japan 6% and Canada 2%.

was accorded highly preferential and favourable terms of access to the EU market. Under
the Lome initiative virtually all exports from the ACP countries entered the European
Union free of any tariff or quota restrictions – roughly 94 percent of total ACP exports
enter the EU market without restrictions (100 percent in case of industrial products and 80
percent for agricultural products). There was significant discrepancy in terms of
preferential treatment between the Lome initiative which covered most of the LDCs, and
the rest 9 LDCs which were covered under the EC GSP Scheme. The EU-EBA virtually
eliminated this discrepancy, and the attendant discrimination amongst the LDCs. On the
other hand, the EU also ensured WTO compatibility of the EU-EBA by not extending it
to the non-LDC ACP countries. This has ensured that the EU provides same treatment to
all the LDCs, a major demand of Bangladesh and many other LDCs with respect to
market access in DMEs. 7
Secondly, unlike the previously in place EU-GSP Scheme which was subject to renewal
and revision, the EBA has no time limit. This has removed the uncertainties under the
earlier GSP Scheme and has added an element of certainty and security in terms of
market access to the EU. The EC will review the functioning of the EU-EBA in 2005,
when amendments will be introduced, if necessary. Thirdly, EU-EBA also allows for
diagonal cumulation of origin between individual LDCs and regional grouping such as
SAARC and ASEAN as well as the EU. Through this provision the EU has allowed the
LDCs to acquire flexibility in ensuring compliance with the RoO under the EU GSP
Scheme. However, one important aspect of the erstwhile EC-GSP Scheme has been
retained in the EU-EBA. Rules of origin under the EU-EBA initiative has been kept
essentially unchanged. This is an important aspect which is going to play a critical role in
terms of accessing the benefits of the initiative by many of the LDCs. Fourthly, as is
known, in June 2000 the EU signed an agreement in Cotonou with African, Caribbean
and Pacific (ACP) countries, with the consequent result that "essentially all" products
from the ACP countries would henceforth enjoy free access to the EU markets. As a
matter of fact, Bangladesh was the most important LDC player which was left out of this
important initiative. 8 The EU-EBA can be seen as a corrective measure in this context to
provide ACP parity to non-ACP LDCs. Fifthly, it is hoped that EU-EBA will put moral
pressure on the USA to extend US TDA2000 parity facilities to LDCs such as
Bangladesh that were not been included under the initiative. Sixthly, the EU-EBA comes
at a period of enlargement of the membership with concomitant expansion of the
community’s market size. Seventhly, the ongoing negotiations on Agreement on
Agriculture (AoA) is likely to lead to substantial reduction in export credit and domestic
support within the EU. This is expected to bring-in important changes in the domestic
price of agri-products, in general pushing up the price level within the community. This
may lead to enhancement of the imports of agri-products to the EU, and consequently,
more export opportunities under the EBA 9. Eighthly, the EU-EBA initiative favouring the
agricultural sector comes at a period when LDCs, which are predominantly dependent on
export of apparels, are preparing to brace themselves for the post-MFA regime. As such
the initiative provides an opportunity to the LDCs to reduce their vulnerabilities in the
global export market and encourage these countries to go for export diversification and
7
This is of interest in the context of US TDA2000 which excluded 15 LDCs in the Asia-Pacific region from
receiving preferential treatment in the US market under the initiative.
8
The 9 non-ACP LDCs are: Bangladesh, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos
and Cambodia.
9
To be true, the AoA also envisages reduction in tariff rates and tariff peaks for agri-commodities, which
on the other hand may lead to an erosion of the preferential margin under the EBA.

Ninthly, this is of significant importance to Bangladesh and other LDCs, EU-EBA

initiative, as articulated by Mr. Pascal Lamy, is to be complemented by targeted trade
related capacity building initiatives.
It needs to be emphasised here that the EBA is compatible with WTO rules since it is line
with paragraph 2 (d) of the Enabling Clause of 1979 which permits special and
differential treatment for the LDCs, in the context of any general or specific measures
favouring the developing countries. However, it needs to be taken into consideration that
EBA is not bound in the WTO. One distinctive feature of the EBA is that, whereas the
GSP Schemes are subject to periodic renewal, the EBA, although in effect an extension of
the EC-GSP Scheme, is not subject to a time limitation. A review of the EBA is, however,
due in 2005 in which time necessary amendments may be brought into the EBA
scheme. 10
There are some limitations in the EU-EBA in its present form. The first limitation which
relates to institutional arrangement is that unlike the Cotonou Convention, finalised in
2000 (as a successor to the Lome Convention), it is non-contractual and therefore may be
withdrawn if the EU so decides. Thus, EBA continues to remain unilateral concession by
the EU rather than an international agreement and as such, as distinct from internationally
agreed market access agreements, it can be withdrawn at the initiative of the EBA at any
point of time. The second limitation is that the EU-EBA is subject to a new safeguard
clause, which allows the EC to withdraw the preference following ‘massive increase in
imports … in relation to … usual levels of production and export capacity of LDCs’. This
clause is a one-loaded - it allows for withdrawal of the market access facility and, what is
of some concern, also leaves room for interpretative ambiguities with respect to “export
capacity of LDC’s”. Although this safeguard appears to have been put in place to
discourage reexport of products by the LDCs from third countries, it leaves a possibly for
dispute to arise between the EU and the LDCs. The third limitation relates to the
safeguard measures with respect to banana, rice and sugar which will be phased out
between 2006 and 2009 (2006 for banana and 2009 for rice and sugar). The fourth
limitation is that the rules of origin which informed the EC-GSP scheme has remained
unchanged under the EBA initiative. This, as has been subsequently discussed, has in the
past, severely constrained the use of this preferential facility, particularly for
manufacturing products such as apparels for which LDCs have found it difficult to
comply with the EC-GSP RoO.
As was pointed out earlier, out of the total 10,500 tariff lines at HS 8 digit level, the
previous EC-GSP Scheme covered exports from LDCs under 9556 tariff lines. Major
product categories which were left out, under the remaining 944 tariff lines, concerned
mainly the agricultural products. The new EU-EBA initiative included another 919 tariff
lines which is about 97 % of the remaining 944 tariff lines. Thus, through the EU-EBA
initiative the EU has covered virtually all other products, excepting 25 categories which
included trade in arms goods.
These products, as was the case for the products originating from the LDCs under the
earlier GSP Scheme, were offered market access at zero-tariff, without imposition of any
market entry quota.
10
The recent initiative of the EU to float a Green Paper with a view to revisit, inter alia, its RoO is an
attempt to do this.

It is to be kept in mind that the EU is the world’s largest importer of agricultural goods.
As table 2.1 shows, EU’s import of agricultural products in 2001 was about $37.8 bln
with the bulk of this import comes from developing countries. WTO statistics show that
export of farm products from the developing countries is on the increase – in 1998 their
combined export was $167 bln, growing by 72% over the preceding five years (EU,
2003). EU’s share in exports of farm products from LDCs is the highest amongst the
OECD countries. EU import of farm products is larger than the combined farm product
import of US, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
TABLE 2.1: COMPARISON OF AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS BY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN 2001
Countries 2001 imports Rank

EU 37761 1
US 22412 2
Japan 12365 3
Canada 2304 4
Australia 945 5
Source: EC (2003).
EU accounts for 85% of African export of farm product and 45% of that of Latin
America. This would mean that if Bangladesh is to succeed in penetrating the EU market
by taking advantage of the EU-EBA, she will need to compete with a large number of
developing countries which had been traditional exporters of products to the EU. As farm
subsidies in the OECD countries come down with the progress of current negotiations,
both at the multilateral and at the bilateral levels, the EU-EBA may also potentially open
up opportunities for both old and new products to enter the EU market.
Percentage of total agricultural tariff lines in EU which is subject to tariff peaks is about
10% covering such farm products as meat and meat products, dairy products and sugar.
EU agri-tariff structure also suffered from tariff escalation in agro-processed goods,
which severely constrained LDC effort to exploit the advantages of industrialisation
through agro-processing. As far as the LDCs are concerned, the EBA is also expected to
remove the obstacles of tariff peak and tariff escalation through zero-tariff access for farm
goods, which potentially opens up market opportunities for Bangladesh’s farm products.
Although unchanged RoO do put constraints to the use of the aforesaid market access
initiative, inclusion of new products, such as farm products under the EU-EBA offers
potentially large scope for export diversification in the EU market. Bangladesh has
heightened interest in exporting agricultural goods, and it has considerable supply side
capacitites and also the potential ability to address the attendant tasks to realise the
potential benefits.
Since the new initiative does not envisage any change in the RoO, from a static
perspective these are not likely to have any significant impact on the exports of existing
products which have been enjoying preferential market access under the GSP Schemes
which were in place previously. However, the new initiative does bring in elements of
predictability and security to preferential treatment and hence may potentially have
positive supply side impact on products which have been enjoying preferential access
under the erstwhile GSP Schemes of the EU.

As regards the new products it is a matter of research and analysis to find out what
exactly would be the impact in terms of export opportunities, what are the current supply
side situation in Bangladesh, and what additional measures would be required to access
the potential market opportunities originating from the EU-EBA initiave.
The relevant issues will be dealt with the greater detail in subsequent sections.
SECTION 3 IMPACT OF EU-EBA FOR BANGLADESH’S EXPORT SECTOR
Implications of the EU-EBA for Bangladesh’s Existing Export Products
It was mentioned earlier that 919 new tariff lines at 8 digit level have come under the
purview of the EU-EBA. These are shown in table-3.1 below.
TABLE 3.1: EU-EBA: NEW TARIFF LINES INCLUDED UNDER THE

INITIATIVE OF LIBERALISATION
HS 2 Description Number of liberalized Per cent of liberalized

Code products (8 digit level) tariff lines
02 Meal and meal products 173 18.82
04 Dairy products 166 18.06
22 Beverage, spirits and vinegar 103 11.21
11 Milled products 77 8.38
20 Preparation of vegetables and fruits 74 8.05
10 Cereals 48 5.22
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 45 4.90
19 Preparation of cereals 38 4.13
01 Live animals 30 3.26
23 Residues & waste from food industry 30 3.26
16 Prep of meat, fish or crustaceans 28 3.05
08 Fruits 25 2.72
07 Vegetables 19 2.07
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 19 2.07
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 12 1.31
15 Fats and oils 10 1.09
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 8 0.87
35 Albumines and enzymes 6 0.65
29 Organic chemicals 5 0.54
12 Oil seeds 3 0.33
Total 919 100.00
Source: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/trade/pdf/ebaprodlist.pdf
70% of the tariff lines in this list belong to meat and meat products (HS 02:173 items or
18.8% of tariff lines), dairy products (HS 04:166 items or 18.1% of newly liberalised
tariff lines), beverage, spirits and vinegar (HS 22:103 or 11.2%), milled products (HS 77
or 11:8.4%), preparation of vegetables and fruits (HS 20:74 or 8.1%) and cereals (HS
10:48 or 5.2%). Number of tariff lines included for fruits and vegetables are 25 and 19
respectively.
From immediate and short-term perspective, the EBA is likely to impact on Bangladesh’s
export of products which were newly included under the EBA initiative and on which
there was previously import duties in the EU. If Bangladesh has the required supply side
capacities at present she will be able to take advantage of this market access initiative in
near future. From long term perspective, newly included products which are not currently
exported may become potentially exportable items.

The possible impact of the EU on a global scale can be evinced from EU’s own findings.
In 1997 EU imported 2939 items from the LDCs (exported by at least one LDC). Of these
502 items were exported from LDCs with a value of at least € 0.5 million or more. Of
those only 11 did not enjoy duty and quota free access at the time of introduction of EBA
in 2001. These are the items which will be immediately impacted by the EBA (Stevens, S.
and Kenuan, J. 2001). These include the following items: (a) beef, (b) cheese, (c) maize,
(d) bananas, (e) rice, and (f) sugar. Of these, banana, rice and sugar are included in the list
of delayed implementation of the EU-EBA.
Table-3.2 provides information on the pre-EBA trade restrictions on these items and
shows both the MFN and preferential rates.
TABLE 3.2: CURRENT EXPORTS OF LDCs TO THE EU THAT WILL BE

AFFECTED BY THE EU-EBA
CN_1997 Description Current import restrictions (1999a

Non-ACP LLDCs ACP LLDCs MFN
02023090 frozen bovine boned meat 9.8%+€332.6/100kg 0%+€332.6/100kg; 14%+€332.6/100kg
Protocol
K0%+€28.8/100kg
04069021 cheddar (excl. grated or powdered and for No preference K€63.9/100kg €182.8/100kg (K€13.75
processing) to 21/100kg)
07099060 fresh or chilled sweetcorn No preference €10.1/100kg €10.3/100kg
08030019 bananas, fresh (excl. plantains) No preference €508/1000kg (K0) €708/1000kg
(k€75/1000kg)
10059000 maize (excl. seed) No preference €75.19/Tb €94/Tb
10062017 long grain husked-brown-rice, length/width Bangladesh P€75.57/1000kg €228.31/1000kg
ratio>= 3, parboiled K€109.82/1000kg; (K€88/1000kg)
No preference
10063098 wholly milled long grain rice, length/width No preference P€160.51/1000kg €494/1000kg (K0)
ratio >= 3, (excl. parboiled)
17011110 raw cane sugar, for refining (excl. added No preference KO; €35.3/100kg
flavouring or colouring) Protocol 0
17011190 raw cane sugar (excl. for refining and added No preference KO; €43.7/100kg
flavouring or colouring) Protocol 0
17019910 white sugar, containing in dry state>=99.5% No preference KO; €43.7/100kg
sucrose (excl. flavoured or coloured) Protocol 0 (for 1 item
out of 2)
17031000 cane molasses resulting from the extraction No preference K0 €0.37/100kg
or refining of sugar
Note:
(a)‘K’ denotes rates within quota; ‘P’ denotes ceiling.
Sources: Stevens, S and Kennan, J (2001).
As can be seen from table-3.2, the non-ACP LDCs will be more benefited compared to
the ACP LDCs since the pre-EUEBA regime (the status quo) was less favourable to these
LDCs relative to the ACP countries. For 8 out of the 11 tariff lines cited in table-3.2 non-
ACP LDCs do not enjoy any preference over standard tariff rates payable to all non-
beneficiary countries i.e., the MFN rate 11. For two items in table-3.2, long grained
husked-brow rice (10062017) and wholly milled long grained rice (tariff line 10063098),
one LDC which is Bangladesh, is given a limited preferential treatment. 12
Structure of global imports to the EU shows that for items identified in table-3.2, it is the
ACP countries which are the important exporters, not the non-ACP LDCs. Stevens and
11
Most Favoured Nations (MFN) Rates allude to the WTO principle of favour one, favour all which
implies tariff rates applicable to non-preferential exporters to the EU.
12
ACP LDCs also stand to gain since the current preferences enjoyed by these countries are less than what
is being proposed under the EU-EBA initiative.

Kennan (2001) reports that in 1997 EU imports of these items was worth €95 million,
whilst for non-ACP LDCs it was a more €361 thousand. It is to be noted with due
importance that Bangladesh is one of the only three countries which is included in that
list. Thus, Bangladesh exported rice, sugar and molasses, Myanmar exports rice and sugar
and Cambodia exported some amount of rice. Accordingly, for Bangladesh two of the
export items in the list, rice and sugar, are under delayed implementation.
Impact of EU-EBA: Results from A Static GEF Exercise
In order to capture the impact of the initiatives of the EU on the existing exports from
Bangladesh, we have studied the potential implications of the initiatives within a general
equilibrium framework (GEF). If preferential trade liberalisation involves a large number
of sectors and/or beneficiary countries, then relying on a collection of partial sectoral
analyses may lead to a distorted view of the global impact of preferential trade
arrangements, which cannot be obtained as the sum of the sectoral impacts. Partial
equilibrium models neglect offsetting effects following liberalisation and working
through inter-sectoral shifts, factor price adjustment and exchange rate changes. Thus, in
the analysis of the impact of the EBA we have adopted a GE framework. This type of
overall non-reciprocal market opening initiative impacts on both relative price of goods
(and, as a result, terms of trade) as well as relative price of factors, which are better
captured under a GEF.
The effects of EBA can be assessed quantitatively either ex-ante or ex-post. Since the
GTAP database had information for 2000, an ex-ante exercise was carried out to capture
the impact of the EBA. Assuming that a reliable theoretical model for the economies
under study is available, the objective of the study was to determine the values for the
main endogenous variables (trade flows, consumption, production) associated with
“new”, different values of policy variables (tariffs), assumed to be exogenous.
Export supply of each country is obtained, at equilibrium, from the difference between
domestic consumption and production. Production, in turn, is obtained from a given stock
of production factors. In such a framework, the export supply of each good turns out to be
highly elastic, and consequently, terms of trade effects are very strong.
A general equilibrium setting is preferable when the policy experiment to be modelled

affects simultaneously many countries and many sectors and is likely to have relevant
repercussions on the terms of trade, factor prices and income. The new initiative by the
EU very much fits into these settings. However, results are still sensitive to the elasticities
used. In particular, in almost all CGE models it is assumed that there is a constant
elasticity of substitution between exports of different origin. This assumption is dictated
by a requirement in calibration, but has strong implications for the estimates of trade
creation and trade diversion. By the Armington assumption, each country is assumed to
be the only supplier of its own export type, e.g. to enjoy monopoly power on world
markets, irrespective of its size. This may lead to overestimation of terms of trade effects.
In assessing the impact of EU-EBA, it has to be kept in mind that these impacts will also
be influenced by other market access initiatives such as AGOA, CBI and ACP. The
analysis and simulation exercise was carried out on the basis of GTAP (version 5).
Beneficiary countries were considered under three groups: Bangladesh, AC-LDCs, other

LDCs. Donor countries were EU, Japan, USA. India, Mexico, China and ROW were
taken as third countries.
The original 57 sectors present in GTAP5 were grouped into 10 aggregated sectors (table-
3.3). This aggregation facilitated to capture the implications of EU-EBA initiative for
major groups of exports.
TABLE 3.3: PRODUCT AGGREGATION FOR SIMULATION ANALYSIS
1 Apparel
2 Textiles
3 Leather
4 Other manufactures
5 Fish
6 Vegetables
7 Sugar
8 Other Food Products
9 Other Primary Products
10 Services
Source: Grouped on the basis of GTAP Database.
Policy Simulations to Capture Static Impact
The following simulations were carried out to estimate the impact of the initiatives by the
EU. These simulations consider three possible scenarios:
Simulation 1: Elimination of all tariff and non-tariff barriers (except sugar and service
sectors) 13 for exports from LDCs in the EU with the Rules of Origin
restrictions for Bangladesh in the apparel and textile sector being in
place. This simulation was done with an aim to understand the
implications of only the EBA initiative for Bangladesh, isolating all
other dynamics in world trade.
Simulation 2: Elimination of all tariff and non-tariff barriers (except service sector)
for exports from LDC in the EU. This simulation also includes
elimination of all tariff and quota barriers for the ACP countries that is
accorded under EBA. There is no Rules of Origin restrictions.
Simulation 3: Elimination of all tariff and quota barriers (except sugar and service
sectors) for exports from LDCs with Rules of Origin Restrictions for
Bangladesh being in place for apparel and textiles in the EU, for ACP
countries in the EU, for countries under USTDA 2000 Act in the US
and for Mexico in the US and Canada.
Each of the simulations looked into the impact of the policy on each countries welfare,
sectoral trade and production patterns, balance of trade and gross national output. Welfare
changes were further decomposed into their allocative efficiency and terms of trade
components.
13
There is no tariff on import of service goods to the EU. GTAP includes sugar as a separate product
category, unlike rice and banana which are not separately categorised.

EU-EBA Initiative and Potential Gains for Bangladesh

Based on the Simulation Exercise
In order to capture the gains from EU-EBA, a number of simulation exercises were
carried out based on the GTAP data. Two simulations were carried out for capturing the
implications of the EU-EBA initiative. Simulation 1 considers elimination of all tariff and
quota barriers (except sugar and service sectors) against the LDCs in the EU. Rules of
Origin restrictions for Bangladesh in the apparel and textiles sector remain unchanged. In
simulation 2, elimination of all tariff and quota barriers (except service sector) for the
LDCs in the EU was modelled. The Rules of Origin restrictions were removed. This
simulation also includes elimination of all tariff and non-tariff barriers for ACP countries.
In Simulation 3, parameters of simulations and impact of NAFTA has been captured.
Implications on Aggregate Export by Region
Table-3.4 validates our earlier observations as regards limited impact of EBA on

Bangladesh’s (or for that matter any of the LDC’s) export growth. However, it should be
once more reiterated here that this is a static scenario. According to the simulation
exercise, the EU-EBA initiative is expected to benefit the export of ACP LDCs by 0.4%
and the other LDCs by 0.1% only. The absolute benefit to Bangladesh in terms of export
was found to be only USD 52.7 million or about 1 percent of the 1997 export value.
TABLE 3.4: EU-EBA: IMPACT ON AGGREGATE EXPORT BY REGION
Pre Post
Absolute Absolute Amount, Mln USD Change, Absolute Amount, Mln USD Percentage Change
Amount,
Region Mln USD Sim 1 Sim 2 Sim 3 Sim 1 Sim 2 Sim 3 Sim 1 Sim 2 Sim 3
Bangladesh 5418.90 5471.55 5521.19 5471.13 52.66 102.29 52.23 0.970 1.888 0.964
India 47344.97 47354.40 47367.01 47361.37 9.43 22.04 16.40 0.020 0.047 0.035
China 241436.02 241459.25 241511.53 241506.98 23.23 75.52 70.97 0.010 0.031 0.029
Mexico 115311.61 115313.23 115329.78 115425.48 1.63 18.17 113.88 0.000 0.016 0.099
ACP-LDC 52687.43 52900.65 52999.49 52904.77 213.22 312.05 217.33 0.400 0.592 0.412
Other ACP 84702.09 84713.90 85159.77 85474.09 11.81 457.68 772.01 0.010 0.540 0.911
USA 872641.06 872639.25 872752.25 873727.69 -1.81 111.19 1086.63 0.000 0.013 0.125
Japan 506277.91 506316.19 506418.59 506411.22 38.28 140.69 133.31 0.010 0.028 0.026
EU 2454885.50 2455778.50 2457577.00 2457150.50 893.00 2691.50 2265.00 0.040 0.110 0.092
Rest of the World 2028595.25 2028714.38 2028920.13 2028875.13 119.13 324.88 279.88 0.010 0.016 0.014
Source: Results of CPD CGE Exercise Based on GTAP Database.
It is interesting to note here that if the EU rules of origin restrictions for the apparel sector
of Bangladesh are removed as binding constraints in the model, Bangladesh will stand to
gain more significantly – the incremental gains would be about US$102.3 (or 1.88
percent of export in the base period) which is twice the level of benefit with RoO
restrictions.
It is clear from the results in table-3.4 that the benefits to the ACP LDCs and ACP non-
LDCs are higher. This is perhaps because share of farm products from these countries is

relatively more compared to Bangladesh. The cumulative benefit for the ACP countries
(ACP LDCs plus Non-ACP LDCs) is expected to be increased by USD 769.7 million,
with a growth of more than 0.50 per cent (Simulation-1). From table-3.4 it is obvious that
the combination of EU-EBA and EU-ACP initiatives would not cause any loss to the
donor countries.
Simulation 3 combines the implications of the EU-EBA initiative and EU-ACP initiative
with RoO for Bangladesh in the apparel and textile sector being unchanged. The results
from simulation-3 shows that Bangladesh’s benefits remain unchanged, as is the case
with ACP-LDCs. As would be expected under this scenario, the ACP countries, which
include a number of agri-exporting DCs, stand to benefit relatively more. This exercise
indicates that the EU-EBA initiative was a corrective measure to ensure parity between
ACP LDCs and Non-ACP LDCs and that within the ACP countries, ACP non-LDCs have
benefited more than ACP-LDCs.
Implications for Bangladesh’s Sectoral Exports
The impact of EU-EBA on the various sectors is shown in table-3.5. As for the sectoral
composition of the benefits from the EU-EBA, as is shown by simulation 1 Bangladesh is
expected to be benefited to a limited extent through increase in exports of agricultural
goods. This was somewhat expected. As was pointed out, export of Bangladesh’s
agricultural goods to the EU which was newly inducted by EBA is not significant. As a
result the impact would not be highly significant. Export of vegetable products is
expected to grow by 9.3 per cent as a result of the EU-EBA initiative. Export of other
foods is also expected to grow by 6.5 per cent from the base period. Exports of industrial
products show nominal growth. Apparel sector shows a slight downturn (-0.38 percent)
which is compensated by the growth of the textile sector (by 5.2 percent). The downturn
in apparel sector can be explained by the shifting of price preference to ACP-LDC region.
In simulation 2, rules of origin restriction is assumed to be eliminated, with extension of

preferential treatment to EU-ACP countries. As expected, Bangladesh under these
circumstances has some potential to enhance its exports in apparel and textiles with the
impact on other goods being minimal.
TABLE 3.5: EU-EBA: IMPACT ON BANGLADESH'S EXPORT TO EU
Post
Pre
Product Sim1 Sim2 Sim3
(Mln $)
Absolute % Absolute % Absolute %
Apparel 2509.45 -9.60 -0.38 76.87 3.06 -10.63 -0.42
Textiles 1010.8 52.49 5.19 40.43 4.00 52.76 5.22
Leather 233.98 1.77 0.76 -1.08 -0.46 1.79 0.77
Fish 22.14 -0.39 -1.75 -0.67 -3.02 -0.38 -1.71
Vegetables 5.72 0.53 9.33 0.47 8.20 0.53 9.29
Sugar 0.25 0.00 -1.67 0.05 18.46 0.00 -1.62
Other Food 379.07 24.74 6.53 19.45 5.13 24.69 6.51
Other Primary 91.55 -1.61 -1.76 -2.69 -2.94 -1.52 -1.66
Other Manufacturing 368.57 0.90 0.24 -3.26 -0.88 0.91 0.25
Services 797.36 -16.21 -2.03 -27.09 -3.40 -15.95 -2.00
Total 5418.89 52.62 0.97 102.48 1.89 52.20 0.96
Source: Results from simulation exercise.

Table-3.5 shows the structure of change in export possibilities of the various sectors
under the three scenarios. As table-3.5 shows, the expected gain in export under scenario-
1 is $52.6 million whilst under scenario-2 it is $102.5. Under scenario-2 which envisages
derestriction of trade in sugar and flexible RoO (or increased ability to comply with
RoO), the incremental export is expected to be $102.5. There are also possibility of some
increase in exports of sugar and vegetables and other food items as a result of EU-EBA.
TABLE 3.6: EXPECTED CHANGE IN THE VARIOUS ECONOMIC INDICATORS AS A

RESULT OF THE EU-EBA
(in percentage)
Simulation–1 Simulation-2 Simulation-3
Change in Export 0.97 1.89 0.96
Change in GDP 0.09 0.18 0.09
Change in Terms of Trade 1.66 2.81 1.63
Change in H/H income 2.31 3.93 2.27
Source: Results from simulation exercise.
Table-3.6 shows some positive changes with respect to such economic indicators as terms
of trade, household income level and in the level of GDP as a result of the EU-EBA. This
is evident that the results are most robust in scenario 2; the changes in exports, GDP,
terms of trade, and household income will be 1.89 percent, 0.18 percent, 2.81 percent, and
3.93 percent respectively. Thus the benefits of the EBA initiative, in terms of incremental
export, are expected to have positive impact, albeit not very significant, on other macro
and income variables.
Identifying the Newly-inducted Products in the EBA
Simulation exercises of the type presented above are good as far as they go; however, as
is known they don’t go much far. The simulations deal with aggregate level behaviours
and under considerable restrictions imposed on the various parameters. For a better
understanding as regards the potential impact of the EU-EBA initiative, such exercises
need to be complemented by more indepth analysis at sectoral and product levels.
In order to identify the existing products exported by Bangladesh, which did not enjoy
preferential market access under the previously existing EC-GSP scheme, but enjoyed
preferential market access under the newly introduced EU-EBA, the following exercise
was carried out.
Firstly, the list of 919 new tariff lines (at 8 digit level) which came under the purview of
EU-EBA were identified and studied. Following this, the list of Bangladesh’s exports to
the EU at 8 digit was identified from the Eurostat data set. A mapping exercise was then
carried out to identify the exportable items of Bangladesh at 8 digit level which matched
the newly inducted 919 items in the EBA list. All 35 items were identified which
Bangladesh has exported to the EU at one time or another between 1990 and 2002. HS
code and product type of these items is given in Annex Table-1. Information on volume
and value of export of these items, their unit prices and EU’s global import of these
products are presented in Annex Table-2. In 2001, when EBA was introduced,
Bangladesh exported 13 items in the list (out of the aforesaid total of 35) of the new items
in the EBA. The total value of these items was not very significant. As we shall
subsequently see in the next chapter (table 4.1) that the total export of these items was

only €91.0 thousand in 2001. However, if we keep in mind that pre-EBA export by non-
ACP LDCs of these items was a mere €361 thousand, (Stevens S, Kennan, J, 2001) the
figure does not seem altogether insignificant, being equivalent to about 25% of export by
non-ACP LDCs.
Thus, a natural point of query would be, what is the short-term impact on Bangladesh’s
export of these newly introduced items. This is likely to depend on (a) the tariff and
specific rates of duties on these items, (b) elasticity of demand in the EU, and (c)
competitive pressure from other suppliers.
As table-3.7 shows, in the EU market it is either ad-valorem duties or specific taxes or

both that are operative on these particular items.
TABLE 3.7: PRE-EBA (2001) EU DUTIES ON SELECTED NEWLY INCLUDED

ITEMS OF BD’S INTEREST
Items Tariff Rate

Ad valorem Fixed (ECU/Ton)
Fresh or chilled asparagus
10.20%
(07092000)
Medium rain husked-brown-rice
264
(10062013)
Long grain husked-brown-rice
264
(10062098)
Wholly milled medium grain rice
416
(10063094)
Dried, prepared pasta
6.40% 246
(19023010)
Rice, pre-cooked or otherwise prepared Or roasting
8.30% 460
(19049010)
Biscuits
9%
(19059045)
Juice of passion fruit or guavas
21% 129
(0098032)
Juice of mangoes, mangos teens, papaws, tamarinds,
cashew apples, lychees, jackfruit, sapodillo 33.60% 206
(20098033 )
Source: Compiled on the basis of Data from Trade Map.
An attempt was made to estimate the immediate gains from the zero-tariff, quota-free
access for the identified items. This was done by taking cognisance of the pre-EBA tariff
rates and TRQs on the identified products and by computing the effective gains from
zero-tariff market access under the EU-EBA. The results of this exercise is presented in
Annex Table-3 and table-3.7. Table-3.7 provides information on some selected major
newly included items which were exported in 2001. Tariff rates on these items varied
from 6.4% to 33.6%; in most cases these items had specific duties as well. Market access
under the EU-EBA which allows zero-duty access to Bangladesh’s exports of these items
is expected to provide added advantage to Bangladesh’s export of these products.
As our estimates presented in table-3.8 shows that in terms of direct impact, the effective
gain for Bangladesh on an export of €78.2 thousand (on the 13 identified items) in 2001
would be about €7.3 thousand.

TABLE 3.8: BANGLADESH’S EXPORT TO THE EU IN 2001

AND EFFECTIVE GAINS UNDER THE EU-EBA INITIATIVE
Unit Price
Value in Volume Effective Gain (2001)
1000 Tariff Rate LDC-GSP Effective Tariff
HS8 1000 ECU in Ton
ECU/Ton PREF
Fixed TREAT Fixed
2001 2001 2001 Ad val Ad val Ad val Fixed ECU
(ECU/Ton) (ECU)
19059090 18.31 13.2 1.39 9% 100% 0% 0 0.00% 0.00
07092000 16.79 7.1 2.36 10.20% 100% 0% 0 0.00% 0.00
19059045 14.66 10.6 1.38 9% 100% 0% 0 0.00% 0.00
17029099 9.81 20 0.49 3.4 15% 0% 3.4 0.00% 68.00
19049010 9.48 8.4 1.13 8.30% 460 100% 0% 460 0.00% 3864.00
19041030 5.02 5.6 0.90 5.10% 460 100% 0% 460 0.00% 2576.00
19023010 4.14 3.4 1.22 6.40% 246 100% 0% 246 0.00% 836.40
Total (7) 78.21 68.3 1.14 0.00% 7344.4
Total of 13 HS 91.01 84.8 0.00% 11000.3
Source: Computed from Eurostat data and based on Annex Table-3.
Table-3.8 shows the 7 most important items in the list of 13 items included in the EU-
EBA list, their export and the import duties. As may be seen from the table, MFN rates on
these items include both the ad-valorem as well as specific taxes. As can be seen from
Annex-Table 3, for LDCs the ad-valorem tax on most of the newly included items were
waived even before the EU-EBA. In the list presented in table-3.8 there were ad-valorem
taxes on 3 items whilst 3 had both specific duties and ad-valorem taxes. As an LDC
Bangladesh previously had zero-duty access to the EU market. Now both quota and
specific duties have been withdrawn on these items which have come under the purview
of the EU-EBA (except rice, sugar and banana). Table-3.8 shows that if the 2001 export
of Bangladesh to EU is considered, the incremental gain for Bangladesh’s export would
be around €11 thousand on a export of €91.01 thousand from the 13 HS lines exported in
2001. Our estimates also show that in 2002 Bangladesh exported 18 items from this list to
the EU. The benefit, according to our estimates presented in the Annex Table 3, was
about €151.4 thousand by way of tariff reduction.

SECTION 4 BANGLADESH’S EXPORT POTENTIALS IN VIEW OF THE

EU-EBA: PRICE LEVEL AND COMPETITIVENESS
Bangladesh’s Export of Newly Included Products in the EBA List
The reference point for the information in table- 4.1 is the list of the 919 tariff lines newly
included under the EU-EBA. It shows the number of items, volume and value of
exportables from Bangladesh in various years which were included in this list. In the
course of the present study, the list of newly included items were also matched with
Bangladesh’s list of exported items over the recent years to identify export items in the
EBA list which Bangladesh has exported at some point of time in the 1990s.
TABLE 4.1: NUMBER, VALUE AND VOLUME OF BANGLADESH’S EXPORT ITEMS

NEWLY INCLUDED IN EU-EBA LIST
Items Exported by Bangladesh

1990 1995 1999 2000 2001 2002
New Tariff lines in
Number 2 9 7 14 13 18
EU-EBA: 919 at 8
digit level Value in 1000 € 60 37 27 43 91 386
Volume in tons 1001.0 29.0 27.0 46.0 85.0 657.6
Source: Computed from Eurostat Database.
As information in table-4.1 shows, in all 35 products at HS 8 digit level were exported by

Bangladesh to the EU which were included in the list of enhanced market access under
the EU-EBA. It can be justifiably argued that these products can be considered as having
potential incremental export possibilities in the context of the EU-EBA.
TABLE 4.2: BANGLADESH’S EXPORTS OF TOP 7 PRODUCTS IN 2001 WHICH WERE
NEWLY INCLUDED UNDER THE EU-EBA
Bangladesh
HS8 Value in 1000 Volume in Unit Price 1000
€ Ton €/Ton
Pizzas, quiches and other unsweetened bakers' wares
(19059090) 18.31 13.2 1.39
(07092000) 16.79 7.1 2.36
Biscuits
(19059045) 14.66 10.6 1.38
Sugar, including invert sugar, solid and sugar syrups
(17029099) 9.81 20 0.49
Rice, pre-cooked or otherwise prepared
(19049010) 9.48 8.4 1.13
Prepared foods
(19041030) 5.02 5.6 0.9
Dried, prepared pasta
(19023010) 4.14 3.4 1.22
Total for Top 7 78.21 68.3
Total for 13 items exported in 2001 91.0 84.8
Source: Estimated from Eurostat 2002.
Table-4.2 shows Bangladesh’s exports of 7 top newly included items with their unit price
in 2001. As can be seen these items included baker’s wares, asparagus, biscuits, sugar,
pasta and rice. If the information in this table is juxtaposed with that of table-4.3 it would
be found that Bangladesh is an insignificant player in the EU market as far as these items
are concerned. For example in 2001 Bangladesh exported sugar (17029099) worth €9.8
thousand (20 tons) whilst EU’s import globally was worth €65.5 million (99.5 thousand

tons); extra – EU import of this item was was worth €3.5 mln whilst intra – EU import
was €62.1 million (94.7 thousand tons).
TABLE 4.3: IMPORT BY EU OF BANGLADESH’S NEWLY INCLUDED ITEMS IN 2001
Import from BD Import from Extra EU Import from Intra EU Global import from EU
HS8 Value in Volume in Value in Volume in Value in Volume in Value in Volume in
1000 € Ton 1000 € Ton 1000 € Ton 1000 € Ton
19059090 18.31 13.2 57883 20919 1098729 499815 1156612 520734
07092000 16.79 7.1 49064 14517 191638 65397 240702 79914
19059045 14.66 10.6 16727 6791 146183 58461 162910 65252
17029099 9.81 20 3465 4782 62079 94729 65544 99511
19049010 9.48 8.4 3281 1442 73183 59200 76464 60642
19041030 5.02 5.6 2699 943 207875 82062 210574 83005
19023010 4.14 3.4 61949 37212 65067 49634 127016 86846
Total 78.21 68.3 195068 86606 1844754 909298 2039822 995904
Source: Estimated from Eurostat 2002.
A similar pattern can be discerned for pre-cooked rice (19049010). Bangladesh exported
only €9.4 thousand worth of rice in 2001 (8.4 tons). EU’s global import in 2001 was
€76.4 million (60.6 thousand tons), with intra-EU imports being €73.1 million (59.2
thousand tons). Thus for the few items which Bangladesh has exported in 2001, the
potential for expansion is quite substantive. However, these two items (sugar and rice
were set for delayed inclusion).
One way of looking at the potential for exports of traditional items to the EU market is to
look at the price factor. Table-4.4 provides information on relative price in the EU of the
top 7 newly included items under the EU-EBA.
TABLE 4.4: AVERAGE PRICE OF BD’S NEWLY INCLUDED ITEMS IN 2001
IN THE EU MARKET
Import from BD Import from Extra EU Import from Intra EU Global Import from EU
HS8 Unit Price Unit Price
Value in Value in Unit Price Value in Unit Price Value in
1000 1000
1000 € 1000 € 1000 €/Ton 1000 € 1000 €/Ton 1000 €
€/Ton €/Ton
19059090 18.31 1.39 57883 2.77 1098729 2.2 1156612 2.22
07092000 16.79 2.36 49064 3.38 191638 2.93 240702 3.01
19059045 14.66 1.38 16727 2.46 146183 2.5 162910 2.50
17029099 9.81 0.49 3465 0.72 62079 0.66 65544 0.66
19049010 9.48 1.13 3281 2.28 73183 1.24 76464 1.26
19041030 5.02 0.9 2699 2.86 207875 2.53 210574 2.54
19023010 4.14 1.22 61949 1.66 65067 1.31 127016 1.46
Total 78.21 - 195068 - 1844754 - 2039822 -
Source: Estimated on the basis of analysis of Eurostat Data.
As can be seen from table-4.4 Bangladesh has substantive price advantage in the EU
market of the identified products. For example for sugar (HS tariff line: 17029099)
Bangladesh’s average price was €0.49 thousand per ton while the corresponding price for
extra-EU import was €0.72 thousand ton and for intra-EU import, it was €0.66 per ton
with the average global figure being €0.66 thousand per ton. For rice (HS Tariff line:
19049010) Bangladesh’s price was €1.13 thousand per ton, whilst the extra-EU import
price was €2.28 thousand per ton, and the global import price was €1.26 thousand per ton.
Since zero-tariff access under the EU-EBA is likely to provide further price advantage on
these products, competitive edge of these are likely to go up in the EU in the context of
the EBA. Thus it is logical to provide support to those products (a list of which is given in
Annex Table 2), which Bangladesh have exported in the past.

New Items with Export Potentials in the EU Market: Post-EBA Export
In this sub-section we have identified a number of items which were exported in 2001,
and analysed their export potentials mainly on the basis of their market size and global
price competitiveness. It is interesting to note that following the EU-EBA, in 2002
Bangladesh has exported €360.2 thousand worth of the products which have been newly
included in the EU-EBA list. If we compare it with the export figures of 2001 which was
€70.2 thousand, this is a substantive jump by any standard. Table-4.5 shows a detailed
picture of the structure of this incremental gains. It is interesting to note that exports of
some of the items such as wholly milled medium grain rice (Tariff line 10063094) has
shown sharp increase in 2002.
TABLE 4.5: IMPORT BY EU OF BD’S NEWLY INCLUDED ITEMS IN 2002
(TOP 10 IN 2002)
BD Exp BD Export in 2002 to EU Extra EU Export in 2002 to EU
Value in Unit Price
Items Value in Value in
1000 € in Volume in Unit Price Volume in 1000
1000 € 1000 €
2001 Ton 1000 €/Ton Ton €/Ton
Wholly milled medium grain rice
1.09 138.04 302.2 0.46 3961 5475 0.72
(10063094)
Garlic, fresh or chilled
78.41 150.2 0.52 52407 46922 1.12
(07032000)
Biscuits
14.66 42.72 37.4 1.14 20165 7902 2.55
(19059045)
Pizzas, quiches and other unsweetened
bakers' wares 18.31 18.83 14.1 1.34 61833 25819 2.39
(19059090)
Beet molasses resulting from the extraction or
refining of sugar 18.2 29.8 0.61 57928 553668 0.10
(17039000)
Sugar, including invert sugar, solid and sugar
syrups 9.81 17.06 35.5 0.48 2650 3691 0.72
(17029099)
16.79 13.8 6.4 2.16 58646 17845 3.29
(07092000)
Rice, pre-cooked or otherwise prepared
9.48 12.07 12.5 0.97 3305 1720 1.92
(19049010)
Medium grain husked-brown-rice
10.72 17.8 0.60 130 144 0.91
(10062013)
Long grain husked-brown-rice
10.28 22 0.47 207074 486378 0.43
(10062098)
Total 70.14 360.13 627.90 468099 1149564
Source: Estimated on the basis of Eurostat Data Base.
From the insignificant level of €1.09 thousand in 2001 it has gone up to €138.04 thousand
in 2002. Bangladesh also appears to enjoy a price advantage in the EU market – average
unit price per ton was found to be €0.46 thousand in 2002 compared to €0.72 thousand for
imports of the same item from extra-EU import. The data also shows that, a new item,
garlic (tariff line 07032000) has been added to the 2002 list of exports from Bangladesh.
This item was not exported from Bangladesh in the past. Export of biscuits (tariff line
19059045) has also picked up, registering an export of €42.7 thousand in 2002 compared
to €14.7 thousand in 2001.
Sugar items appear to hold good export prospects in the EU market. Export of beet
molasses was €18.2 thousand in 2002. Indeed in 1995 €20 thousand worth of this item
was exported by Bangladesh to the EU. Export of sugar products (tariff line 17029099)
also went up from €9.81 thousand in 2001 to €17.06 in 2002. The average price for
Bangladesh was €0.48 thousand per ton compared to an extra-EU average of €0.72
thousand per ton. It can be seen from the table that the 18 items which were exported in

2002 had a market of €468 million in EU. Bangladesh’s share in this was only about
0.08% of extra-EU import. If we take into account the factor of intra-EU import, the
market size of these items will rise to €2045.6 million.
Export Potential and Export Capacity: Competition and Competitors
Having identified some of the newly included items under the EU-EBA, the next
questions that needs to be answered is: which are Bangladesh’s major competitors in the
EU? As can be seen from the table-4.6 and table-4.7 such countries include both
developed and developing countries and also the LDCs; they include countries from
within EU and from South Asia.
In recent years Bangladesh was able to increase export of sugar and sugar products (HS
17029099) to the EU. Sugar holds considerable promise, particularly in view of the zero-
tariff, quota-free access by 2009. Bangladesh enjoys some advantage in terms of price as
is evidenced by table 4.6. The EU, for the first time, is now keen to expose its sugar
producers to the forces of the market. Till now sugar producers in Europe and some of its
former colonies were protected from fluctuations in world prices. Price of white sugar
European producers receive €700/ton, which is about three times higher than the global
price (€250/ton). Recently, Bangladesh has indicated that it plans to sell 9000 tons of
sugar to EU (mainly France) under the quota available for the LDCs. Proposals submitted
by the LDCs to the EU include (a) postponement of the process of tariff liberalisation for
sugar till 2016 (instead of 2009), (b) granting of a second quota of 466 thousand tons with
a 15% annual growth and (c) continuation of the present remunerative price for sugar. If
accepted, Bangladesh will have an additional quota of between 25-40 thousand tons for
export of white sugar to the EU in 2004-05. 14
TABLE 4.6: IMPORT OF SUGAR, SOLID AND

SUGAR SYRUP (HS 17029099) BY EU IN 2000
Value (1000 €) Volume (Ton) Unit (1000 €/Ton)

Bangladesh 6 15 0.40
Belgium 15959 26460 0.60
Netherlands 10973 12784 0.86
Spain 1548 4129 0.37
South Africa 649 1471 0.44
Thailand 98 91 1.08
China 55 77 0.71
Pakistan 23 20 1.15
Sri Lanka 18 15 1.20
Malaysia 16 10 1.60
India 8 10 0.80
INTRA-EUR 53575 87778 0.61
EXTRA-EUR 2994 5063 0.59
Total World 56569 92841 0.61
Source: Eurostat 2003 Data.
For example, in the export of biscuits (HS 17029099), Bangladesh’s competitors in the
EU are Belgium, Netherlands, as well as China, Thailand and Pakistan. Although
Bangladesh does enjoy some price advantage (€0.4 thousand per ton for Bangladesh
against a world average of €0.60 per ton), there appears to be a premium for high quality
products within the same HS line (table-4.6).
14
This would however, require substantial enhancement of the capacity utilization of the country’s existing
17 sugar mills.

TABLE 4.7: IMPORT OF PRE-COOKED RICE (HS 19049010) BY EU IN 2000
Value (1000 EU) Volume (Ton) Unit (1000ECU/Ton)

Bangladesh 2 2 1.00
Belgium 17525 10929 1.60
Italy 9470 7283 1.30
Turkey 476 275 1.73
Thailand 155 90 1.72
China 47 39 1.21
India 6 8 0.75
Vietnam 5 2 2.50
Sri Lanka 5 7 0.71
INTRA-EUR 55292 43848 1.26
EXTRA-EUR 2703 1552 1.74
Total World 57995 45400 1.28
For pre-cooked rice (HS line 19049010), the major competitors are Belgium, Italy,
Turkey, Thailand and China. Although average prices of China and Thailand were higher
than Bangladesh, their export was significantly higher (table-4.7). The issue of quality,
fragrance, packaging and brand name play a crucial role here.
In the case of rice (wholly milled rice: HS 10063094) exports increased from 1 ton to
302.2 tons, which was quite a significant jump. However, Bangladesh’s export to EU is
insignificant compared to EU’s global import of this tariff line as is shown in table-4.8.
TABLE 4.8: IMPORT OF WHOLLY MILLED RICE (HS 10063094) BY EU IN 2000
Country Value 1000 € Volume Ton Unite 1000 €/Ton

Bangladesh* 1.09 (138.04) 1 (302.20) 1.09 (0.46)
Italy 8767 16935 0.52
India 9 11 0.82
Pakistan 9 19 0.47
China 61 104 0.59
Thailand 62 102 0.61
Sri Lanka 7 11 0.64
Japan 59 38 1.55
Australia 485 1011 0.48
USA 4318 4561 0.95
Spain 1758 3572 0.49
INTRA-EUR 18461 28816 0.64
EXTRA-EUR 5115 6044 0.85
Total World 23576 34860 0.68
Source: Derived from Eurostat Database.
* Figures for BD are for 2001 and 2002 (in parentheses) since there was no exports from
BD in earlier years
As table-4.8 shows, in 2000 EU imported 34,860 tons of this item (Bangladesh’s share is
less than 1%). Average price level in 2002, at €0.46/ton also appear to be competitive
when compared with an intra-EU average of 0.64, extra-EU average of €0.85/ton, and a
global average of €0.68/ton. It is also to be noted that as subsidies come down, there is a
possibility that both EU and US price levels will go up; this is likely to hold true for other
agro-based items as well. It is to be noted, however, that some of the regional countries
such as Sri Lanka (€0.64/ton), Thailand (€0.61/ton), Pakistan (€0.47/ton) and China
(€0.59/ton) appear to have similar price levels as Bangladesh, providing some idea about
the possible competitive pressure from regional countries.

TABLE 4.9: IMPORT OF GARLIC (HS 07032000) BY EU IN 2000

Bangladesh* 78.41 150.2 0.52
India 538 855 0.63
Thailand 147 199 0.74
Myanmar 306 673 0.45
China 8580 13018 0.66
Egypt 1836 2049 0.90
Argentina 11557 11798 0.98
Mexico 508 379 1.34
Estonia 46 29 1.59
INTRA-EUR 102303 81641 1.25
EXTRA-EUR 30062 34979 0.86
Total World 132365 116620 1.14
*Import from Bangladesh in 2002 since there was no export from BD in earlier Years
In case of garlic, as table-4.9 shows, Bangladesh entered into the EU market only after the
EBA was introduced, exporting 150.2 tons worth €78.41 thousand. Here also, Bangladesh
prices are lower compared to intra-EU, extra-EU and global average prices. Some of the
regional countries such as Myanmar (€0.45/ton), Thailand (€ 0.74/ton), India (€0.63/ton),
China (€0.66/ton) are likely to be Bangladesh’s major competitors here.
TABLE 4.10: IMPORT OF BEET MOLASSES (HS 17039000) BY EU IN 2000

Bangladesh* 5 (18.2) 8 (29.8) 0.63 (0.61)
India 551 4960 0.11
China 10 20 0.50
Poland 18675 157971 0.12
Egypt 3308 39934 0.08
Syria 1202 18472 0.07
Latvia 964 10255 0.09
Morocco 5999 82348 0.07
Lithuania 3896 52213 0.07
Spain 404 8343 0.05
INTRA-EUR 37727 496691 0.08
EXTRA-EUR 39392 429169 0.09
Total World 77119 925860 0.08
*Figures in parentheses are for exports from BD in 2002
It is interesting to note that in terms of export of products such as beat molasses, as the
data in table-4.10 shows, average price of Bangladeshi product was found to be way
higher compared to most of the countries. It is to be reiterated that even within the same
product group at 8-digit level tariff line, there may be substantive difference in the quality
and characteristic features of the product, leaving scope for specialisation along particular
segment of the demand curve.

TABLE 4.11: TARIFF RATES ON IMPORT OF POULTRY PRODUCTS AND

EGG ITEMS IN THE EU IN 2000
Tariff Global import

Items Ad Volume in Unit Price
Fixed Value in 1000 €
Val Ton 1000€/Ton
Fresh or chilled, plucked and gutted fowls of
species gallus domesticus, with heads and feet,
262 €/T 15109 15693 0.96
called'83 %
(02071110)
Fresh or chilled, plucked and drawn fowls of species
gallus domesticus, without heads and feet but with
299 €/T 22861 11282 2.03
necks,
(02071130)
Frozen fowls of species gallus domesticus, plucked
and drawn, without heads, feet, necks, hearts, livers 325 €/T 75969 61511 1.24
(02071290)
Fresh or chilled unboned breasts and cuts thereof of
602 €/T
fowls of the species gallus domesticus 227635 76867 2.96
(02071350)
Frozen halves or quarters of fowls of the species
gallus domesticus 358 €/T 18475 20434 0.90
(02071420)
Turkey or goose eggs for hatching 150 €/1000 pces
41245 3116 13.24
(04070011)
Poultry eggs for hatching 35 €/1000 pces
71838 24132 2.98
(04070019)
304 €/T
Poultry eggs, in shell, fresh, preserved or cooked
452230 492153 0.92
(04070030)
Source: Based on Eurostat Data and Annex Table-4.
Yet another item where Bangladesh has substantive supply side capacities is poultry
products and eggs. Table-4.11 and table-4.12 provide evidence on tariffs on these product
and the respective market size. Though Bangladesh has not exported these products to the
EU in the past, these are also items where price comparisons appear to indicate
Bangladesh’s export potential in the EU. However, here also compliance with health-
hygiene standards are likely to play a major role in terms of accessing the EU market.
TABLE 4.12: IMPORT OF POULTRY PRODUCTS AND EGG ITEMS
BY THE EU IN 2000
Intra EU Extra EU World

HS 8 Value in Volume in Unit Price Value in Volume Unit Price Value in Volume in Unit Price
1000 € Ton 1000€/Ton 1000 € in Ton 1000€/Ton 1000 € Ton 1000€/Ton
02071110 15108 15692 0.96 1 1 1.00 15109 15693 0.96
02071130 22812 11244 2.03 49 38 1.29 22861 11282 2.03
02071290 70148 55866 1.26 5821 5645 1.03 75969 61511 1.24
02071350 214645 71369 3.01 12990 5498 2.36 227635 76867 2.96
02071420 18415 20360 0.90 60 74 0.81 18475 20434 0.90
04070011 23579 1509 15.63 17666 1607 10.99 41245 3116 13.24
04070019 63839 23084 2.77 7999 1048 7.63 71838 24132 2.98
04070030 443168 480544 0.92 9062 11609 0.78 452230 492153 0.92
Source: Based on Eurostat Data and Annex Table-5.
The above analysis indicate that once the current restrictions are withdrawn under the
EBA initiative Bangladesh may begin to enjoy competitive advantage in exports of rice
and sugar in the EU market. The rate of specific duty for rice during pre-EBA was
€264.0/ton for husked rice, and €416/ton for milled rice. The rate has now been revised
downward as per EC regulation No. 1384/2002 to be effective as on July 31, 2002.

The present rates for the newly included rice varieties are given in table-4.13.
TABLE 4.13: REVISED IMPORT DUTIES ON RICE AND BROKEN RICE
Duties (€/ton)
CN code
Bangladesh
1006 10 23 101.16
1006 20 13 127.66
1006 20 17 127.66
1006 20 98 127.66
1006 30 61 193.09
1006 30 67 193.09
1006 30 92 193.09
1006 30 94 193.09
1006 30 96 193.09
Source: Based on Annex Table 6.
TABLE 4.14: REVISED DUTIES CURRENTLY APPLICABLE TO IMPORTS OF WHITE

SUGAR, RAW SUGAR AND PRODUCTS
(EUR)
Amount of representative prices per 1000 kg Amount of additional duty per 1000
CN code
net of product concerned kg net of product concerned
1701 99 10 (1) 242.4 85.9

1701 99 90 (2) 242.7 85.9
1702 90 99 (3) 2.4 4.0
(1) For the standard quality as defined in Article 1 of amended Council Regulation (EEC) No 431/68 (OJ L 89, 10.4.1968, p. 3).
(2) For the standard quality as defined in Article 1 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/72 (OJ L 94, 21.4.1972, p. 1).
(3) By 1 % sucrose content.
Annex Table 7 and table-4.14 provide information on the newly fixed rates by the EU on
various categories of sugar which is currently applicable in the EU. The three categories
shown in table-4.14 are the ones which Bangladesh has exported to the EU in the past.
As was mentioned earlier, following the introduction of the EBA Bangladesh’s export of
garlic and rice and molasses posted some increase compared to the pre-EBA situation.
Rice appears to be an important item which has potential for export expansion in the EU.
Bangladesh has exported a number of rice varieties at HS 8 digit level in the EU in the
past. As was pointed out earlier, in 2002 Bangladesh exported 302.2 tons of rice worth
€138.04 thousand. As was mentioned, rice is one of the three items for which
implementation of zero-tariff, zero-quota facility has been deferred till January 2009. The
tariffs applicable currently for the LDCs on rice will be by reduced as per the schedule
depicted in table-4.15.
TABLE 4.15: SCHEDULE FOR TARIFF REDUCTION FOR LDC EXPORTS OF RICE
Date Extent of reduction

Sept. 1, 2006 20%
Sept. 1, 2007 50%
Sept. 1, 2008 80%
Sept. 1, 2009 100%
Source: EC Resolution, 2002.

Meanwhile the quota on imports of rice from LDCs will be expanded from the level of
2002-03 according to the following schedule shown in table-4.16.
TABLE 4.16: EXPANSION OF QUOTA ON EXPORT OF RICE FROM LDCs

Year LDC Quota (ton)
2002-03 2895
2003-04 3329
2004-05 3828
2005-06 4402
2006-07 5062
2007-08 5821
2008-09 6694
Source: EC Resolution, 2002.
These quotas are ceiling below which export of rice to the EU from an LDC is allowed to
enter duty free. The quotas are distributed on a first come first served basis. Above this
quota, rice may be exported from an LDC on payment of tariffs applicable for the LDCs,
which as was mentioned above, would be zero by September 1, 2009 when quotas are to
reach 6694 tons.
As was mentioned earlier, in 2002 Bangladesh has exported 302.2 tons of rice to the EU.
This was equivalent to about 10.2% of total quota for LDCs in the corresponding period.
Although the share is not significantly large, it needs to be taken into cognisance that
some of the other LDCs such as Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are also major producers
of rice. As such, if thanks to superior marketing channels other competing LDCs are able
to favourably position themselves in the EU market, and exhaust the LDC quota before
Bangladesh’s exporters export to the EU, then exporters from Bangladesh will be able to
export the EU subject to payment of the tariff applicable for the LDCs. Thus Bangladesh
may (a) call for expansion of EU quota for LDCs at a faster pace than is envisaged in the
current plan, or (b) call for single country quota for Bangladesh which will be able to
accommodate Bangladesh’s export potential to the EU. However, it is to be noted that
only particular varieties of rice has export potentials in the EU market. Bangladesh has
indeed exported some of these categories in the past. It is mainly aromatic rice of the
Jesmine variety which have considerable market potential in the EU. These are varieties
which are also exported by Thailand and also by India, which is the world’s second
largest exporter of rice.

SECTION 5 ITEMS WITH EXPORT POTENTIAL AND BANGLADESH’S

PRODUCTION CAPACITY AND SUPPLY SIDE ISSUES
Export Opportunities and Production Capacity
To have an idea about Bangladesh’s present supply side capacity in some of the identified
exports, one can look at the global export of some of these product groups and compare
these to exports to the EU. 15 The information in table-5.1 and table-5.2 show that in the
four categories at four digit level, Bangladesh currently has exports to both EU and
outside of EU. Global export of such exports as rice (HS 1006), vegetables (HS 0709)
agro-processed items (HS 1904) and baker’s wares such as biscuits (HS 1905) whilst not
significant, is higher than what is currently exported to the EU market.
TABLE 5.1: EXPORT FROM BANGLADESH TO WORLD OF SELECTED ITEMS IN 2001
HS Value in Volume Unit price

Items
Code 1000 € in Ton 1000E/Ton
0709 Other vegetables, fresh or chilled 13085.07 10844.00 1.21
1006 Rice 192.02 304.00 0.63
Pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed with meat or
other substances or otherwise prepared, such as
1902 71.45 91.00 0.79
spaghetti, macaroni, noodles, lasagne, gnocchi ,
ravioli, cannelloni; couscous, whether or not prepared
Prepared foods obtained by the swelling or roasting of
cereals or cereal products, e.g. corn flakes; cereals,
1904 104.49 157.00 0.67
other than maize "corn", in grain form, pre-cooked or
otherwise prepared
Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other bakers' wares,
whether or not containing cocoa; communion wafers,
1905 394.76 359.00 1.10
empty cachets of a kind suitable for pharmaceutical
use, sealing wafers, rice paper and similar products
Source: Computed from Trade Map Data (standard conversion has been applied).
TABLE 5.2: EXPORT FROM BANGLADESH TO THE EU OF SELECTED ITEMS IN 2001
HS Value in Volume Unit price in

Items
Code 1000 € in Ton 1000 ElTon
0709 Other vegetables, fresh or chilled 16.8 7.1 2.36
1006 Rice 3.7 5.0 0.74
Pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed with meat or other

substances or otherwise prepared, such as spaghetti, macaroni,
1902 9.3 7.1 1.31
noodles, lasagne, gnocchi, ravioli, cannelloni; couscous, whether
or not prepared
Prepared foods obtained by the swelling or roasting of cereals or

1904 cereal products, e.g. corn flakes; cereals, other than maize "corn", 14.5 14.0 1.04
in grain form, pre-cooked or otherwise prepared
Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other bakers' wares, whether or

not containing cocoa; communion wafers, empty cachets of a kind
1905 33.0 23.8 1.39
suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice paper and
similar products
Source: Computed from Eurostat.
For example, in the category of rice (HS 1006), Bangladesh’s global export in 2001 was
304 tons, while export to EU was only 5.0 ton. Interestingly, in 2002 export of this item
to EU alone exceeded global export in 2001: 347.7 tons against 304.0 tons.
15
The data is available only at four digit level.

In case of vegetables, Bangladesh’s export to the EU is quite insignificant, although

Bangladesh’s global exports are quite substantive, at 10.8 thousand tons. For bread, pastry
and biscuits (HS 1905), exports to EU in 2001 was 23.8 tons compared to a global export
of 359.0 tons in 2001. The matched figures for cornflakes and cereals (HS 1904) were
14.0 tons and 157.0 tons respectively.
Thus, it is possible that an export diversion of these items to the EU market may take
place in absence of static supply side capacity constraint. Secondly, since there is a
possibility of market diversification, investment in the export-oriented production of these
items also appear to be economically feasible, leading to increase in the size of exports.
Adequate information on current production capacity in these items is not available which
limits the scope of analysis.
Thus, as our analysis above shows, the major newly included items of interest to
Bangladesh are rice, vegetables, sugar, fruits and spices and condiments. As can be seen
from table-5.1, in all these items Bangladesh does have substantive domestic capacities
and also enjoy static comparative advantage.
It needs to be pointed out here that these are broad categories of products. Production of
products with revealed export potentials in the EU will need to be seen at much
disaggregated level. At present production data for these items are not available at
disaggregated levels. However, information in table-5.3 provides some idea about
Bangladesh’s aggregate production of some of the identified items.
TABLE 5.3: PRODUCTION OF SELECTED CROPS IN BANGLADESH
Production in 1000 M. Ton Production in 1000 M. Ton

Crops
in 2001 in 2002
Rice 25085 24300
Other Cereals 1708 1627
Pulses 366 341
Spices 397 418
Sugar Crops 7042 6780
Fruits 1611 1577
Vegetables Total 1588 1599
of which: winter Vegetables 1065 1063
:summer vegetables 523 536
Source: 1. BBS 2003.statistical Year Book of Bangladesh 2001, pg 134-137
2. BBS 2003. Statistical Bulletin Bangladesh, pg 54-55
As table-5.3 shows, Bangladesh has considerable supply side capacity in the identified
product groups. As evidence suggests, most LDCs lack the required supply side capacities
to access the potential market openings in these products. In terms of production of the
broad groups of identified exports such as rice, sugar, vegetables, and also fruits, spices
and pulses, supply side capacity of Bangladesh is significant. This is not to say that
Bangladesh has already become a food surplus country – Bangladesh remains a net
importer of many of the agro-products such as sugar, spices, fruits and in some years,
rice. But the operative issues here are three: firstly, an already large existing capacity
production leaves scope for further economies of scale through technology upgradation
and modern cropping practices; secondly, it is common in a globalised economy to trade
in specific varieties of goods within broad categories, to be both exported and imported
depending on comparative advantage within the broad categories, and thirdly, existing

supply side capacities can potentially create an environment for speedy reorientation of
production culture to access market access opportunities.
However, price advantage, quality, compliance with SPS-TBT requirements in the EU
will play critical role if Bangladesh is to take the maximum advantage from the EU-EBA.
For example, varieties which has export potentials in the EU are the scented ones,
production of which is currently limited in Bangladesh. As we have seen, wholly milled
non-parboiled medium grain rice (HS 10063094) is an emerging product of export from
Bangladesh. If Bangladesh is to penetrate the EU market the effort will need to be
concentrated on increasing the supply capacity of this particular type of rice. If the
marketing links could be established with the EU, there is a possibility that farmers will
be encouraged to go for these particular varieties of rice. In some other cases, such as
vegetables, fruits etc. adequate processing, canning, packaging and transportation
facilities will need to be put in place if Bangladesh is to enter the EU market as a big time
supplier. Sugar is yet another product. Compliance with SPS-TBT will be a critical factor
in realising these potentials.
Agro-Processing Base and Export Potential
Actual realisation of export potential in the EU will also depend on the Bangladesh’s
domestic agro-processing capacity. As is seen from table-5.4, agro-based industries
currently account for about 38.0% of total industrial capacity in the country (this estimate
exclude jute textile which in the context of a broad approach would fall under the
category of agro-based industries; in such case the corresponding share would go up to
50% of the industrial capacity). Food, beverages and tobacco are the most common
categories of agro-based industries, accounting for half of the domestic capacity. Tea
processing and blending is the second-most important sub-category followed by fish and
sea food. The first two are traditional agro-based industries whilst the third one is a
development of recent times.
TABLE 5.4: WEIGHT OF AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY IN

BANGLADESH INDUSTRIAL SECTOR
Industry Weights (average in the 1990s)

Food, Beverage and Tobacco 22.14
Fish & Sea Food 1.81
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil 0.44
Flour Milling 1.18
Bakery 0.96
Sugar 2.78
Tea Processing and Blending 7.87
Jute 14.07
Table-5.5 provides information about the structure of the agro-based industry in

Bangladesh. The table reflects the positive developments in recent years in terms of
creation of supply-side capacities in the agro-based industrial sector. This base can now
serve as a launching pad for realisation of the potentials for accessing the benefits offered
under the EU-EBA.
Studies carried out by ATDP (1999), relevant GOB agencies and experts provide some
interesting information as regards the current capacities and potential opportunities for a

number of agro-processed products. These studies, some of the findings of which are
briefly reported here, need to be now carefully looked at from the perspective of
exploring the new opportunities emanating from the new market access initiatives. The
following section identifies a number of agro-processing sectors in which Bangladesh has
already demonstrated a certain degree of capacity. The section also presents a brief
description of sectors in which the country has the potential capacity to build a
competitive agro-industrial base. The section draws on existing published reference
materials from ATDP and other sources. It also identifies areas where government’s
fiscal, financial incentives for the sector and technical assistance to the enterprise and
entrepreneurs are likely to give rich dividends by way of enhancing market access
opportunities.
TABLE 5.5: STRUCTURE OF AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY
Industry Sectors
Fruits and vegetables Cultivation and Fruits and vegetables Processing
Processing Fruits and vegetables Drying
Fruit Juice Concentrate Processing
French fries and Potato Chips
Poultry Poultry Hatchery
Chicken Meat Processing
Livestock Beef and Mutton Processing
Fisheries and Fish Processing Fish Canning
Frozen chopped fish
Commercial shrimp and crab culture
Dairy Milk Packaging
Milk based fruit drinks
Cheese
Butter
Yogurt
Feed Processing Industry Fish feed
Poultry feed
Tea Packet tea
Tea Bag
Canned tea
Others Agro-waste processing Industry
Seed Industry
Commercial cultivation of flower
Backward Linkage Packaging and Printing Industry
Reproduction support for livestock and fisheries
Fertiliser
Forward Linkage B2B E-commerce for Agro-based products
Source: ATDP (1999).
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Processing
Although the varieties of fruit and vegetables grown in the country is quite diverse,
processing of these fruits on an industrial basis is still limited both in terms of scale and
quality.
ATDP and the Government agencies have been providing training and assisting in skills
development in order to motivate farmers to go for better and more productive
technologies and practices. This will need to be strengthened further. HYV seeds and

modern technology could stimulate productivity in a wide range of activities ranging from
land preparation to harvesting. The resultant superior quality of fruits and vegetables
could provide the required raw materials for the processing industry which could then
target the European export market. Capitalising on the new knowledge, and through
development of commercial farming, in recent years a number of agro-based processing
units have come up in Bangladesh. Vegetable production has more than doubled over the
recent years, though growth of fruit production has lagged behind. The market base is still
narrow, product varieties are few and Bangladesh’s insignificant exports mainly cater to
the lower segment of the demand curve.
Various surveys provide evidence that new products such as mushroom, baby corn and
jams and jellies have export potential in the markets of developed countries. The new
opportunities of zero-tariff, quota-free market access to EU could provide a phillip to this
sector.
It is to be recognised that development of the fruit and vegetable processing plant will
also depend on the growth of such sectors as agro-processing machinery, equipment and
support industries (glass, caps, cardboard, labels, spices and oils).
During peak harvesting season, and this is true for almost all varieties of crops, a large
proportion of these valuable commodities are wasted due to microbial infestation,
inefficient handling, transportation, lack of post-harvest handling technology, storage and
marketing. The estimated post-harvest loss of these commodities is reported to be 20-25
percent and is sometimes as high as 40 percent for some of the more perishable products.
Processing plants could significantly reduce such wastages (ATDP, 1999).
Fruits and Vegetables Drying
Entrepreneurs have expressed an interest in processing of fruits, mainly drying the fruit,
and marketing these items both locally and globally. In the long run exporting dried fruit
to markets in North America and Europe, once an economy of scale has been reached,
may prove to be promising. One agribusiness which is engaged in fruit and vegetables
(F&V) drying in Bangladesh, has identified a large and growing market for dried
mushrooms in EU and is at present exploring opportunities to export in these markets
(ATDP 1999).
One of the most serious constraints to expanding the dried F&V industry in Bangladesh is
that the technology is relatively new for the entrepreneurs. Prospective entrepreneurs need
training in the practices of fruit drying as well as in terms of developing the appropriate
procedures necessary for the production of high quality dried F&V for the foreign
markets.
According to European importers, imports of dried mango and papaya have especially
robust growth opportunities because the markets are still relatively underdeveloped. The
United Kingdom imports only about 100 metric tons of dried mango annually. The
demand for dried coconut and banana products in recent years shows that dried fruit
business could be a profitable venture. However, these markets are highly competitive.
United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Netherlands are countries which have the
largest demand in Europe for dried tropical fruits. The opening up of Eastern European

markets is also an important development since the region provides new market
opportunities.
In recent times several fruit drying production units have come into operation.
Agricultural Marketing Co. Ltd. [AMCL] started drying mushrooms in 1995 and
constructed drying chambers using gas burners as a heat source in early 1996. Along with
mushroom AMCL has started preparing dried mango, pineapple, papaya, banana and star
fruit. The business is likely to have significant potential in the context of the new
initiatives.
With extensive applications in the confectionery and candy industry, desiccated coconut
is the most important dried tropical fruit item imported by the United States; this is also a
major item imported by the EU. In the Asian region, Sri Lanka and the Philippines are the
major exporters of these products.
Dried banana, usually sold as "chips" or round slices, can be dehydrated mechanically or
sun dried, sugared or honey-coated for sweetness and preservation, and sometimes, deep
fried to maintain shelf life. Over the past few years Bangladesh entrepreneurs has been
able to successfully establish a number of such enterprises. However, maintaining high
quality, a key factor for global market penetration, is crucial to market penetration in the
countries of the EU.
The EU market for dried tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, and papaya is divided
between the health food industry and retail food markets. Health food stores demand fruit
that does not have any additives, and is dried using natural processes. These products sell
at a premium. Large retail stores in Europe provide marketing opportunities for dried fruit
which is sugared and treated with sulphur to ensure freshness.
Suppliers of dried mango and papaya to the EU include such countries as Thailand, the
Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Burkina Faso. Quality determines and differentiates the price
level in the dehydrated mango market.
There is a promising future for the dried fruit business because of a growing health
concern amongst people in the developed countries. Dried pineapple, mango, and banana
offer consumers a fat-free alternative to other snacks. Nutrition labelling, which began
about two years ago, has had a positive impact on the dried fruit market because
consumers can readily understand how healthy the product is. There is thus a potential
opportunity to expand the market for dried fruit products. However, the product must be
supplied on time, supplies has to be ensured on a continuous basis and quality must be of
high class.
Mango puree is available in Europe from a variety of sources, and is a popular ingredient
in multi-fruit drinks as well as in ice cream. After pineapple juice, banana puree is the
largest tropical juice import into Europe. Banana puree is used in drink blends as well as
in baby food, pudding and other dessert products. A number of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs
have come up in recent years with their own brands. A few of them are competing
successfully with foreign brands in the local market. However, here also a critical issue
from the perspective of market penetration in the EU will be maintenance of high quality.

Potatoes represent the third most important staple food in the world, next to wheat and
rice. In relative terms, global average yield for potatoes is eight bags compared to one bag
each in case of wheat and rice.
In Bangladesh, the production of potatoes has increased progressively to about 2.0 million
MT in 2001-02. The cultivable land under potato has also increased significantly. At
present, there is no mechanised plant in Bangladesh for producing good quality french
fries and potato chips. At present, there is no enterprise in Bangladesh which produces
french fries commercially. Only a few manufacturers are producing potato chips, but
these are mostly crackers and extruded items mixed with other ingredients. Products in
attractive packages from abroad are penetrating the domestic market. There is a good
prospect for import substitution as well as export orientation in this sector provided
hygiene and quality standards could be maintained.
Poultry and Poultry Meat Processing Industry
Poultry raising in Bangladesh have traditionally been a household based enterprise. In the
last decade, thanks to government support and NGO microcredit programmes, poultry
firms have been set up in many areas of the country which operate on commercial basis
and have developed a certain degree of economies of scale. Fresh eggs and fresh chicken
(both perishable items) are the output of the industry. Grain, corn (maize) and soyabean
oil cake are the main input ingredients for this industry. Maize, oil cake, and sometimes
fishmeals, are imported from India. According to Bangladesh Economic Survey 2003, the
number of poultry in 2001-02 stood at 163.5 million. On the other hand, production of
eggs in the corresponding period stood at 3.9 billion (GoB, 2003).
Given the growing number of middle class population in the country there is a large
market for poultry and poultry products in the country, particularly in urban areas.
Demand for high quality, fresh, processed broiler chicken is also on the rise. However,
there are only a few chicken meat processing plants in the country which are capable of
supplying the product on a large scale. Most chickens in Bangladesh are supplied as live
birds. In Dhaka and Chittagong, some poultry farms have sales centers where dressed
chickens are retailed. Most of the chicken population is of local variety. Though with the
expansion of the poultry farms, this share may have gone down in recent years, poultry
feed at village level are mostly self-prepared and 42 percent of total feed requirements are
met from private dealers at commercial level.
Egg production in Bangladesh is somewhat advanced compared to poultry meat

production. At present, there are a number of breeder and hatchery operations supplying
live chicks to small farms and also to their own laying operations. However, any initiative
to export poultry and poultry products will require a very high degree of quality control in
production, processing, packaging and transportation stages.
HYV Seed
Recent studies indicate that productivity, particularly of HYV paddy, is stagnating. Major
factors behind such decline in productivity are poor quality of seeds. Farmers store seeds
as part of their commercial produce for the next season. Seed is a fundamental
determinant of the productivity of a wide range of productive inputs, including fertiliser

and labour. A suitable formal system of seed production and distribution is a major
vehicle for introducing improved genotypes into the farming system.
Although average annual seed replacement rate in Bangladesh is fairly low, at about six
percent of total national seed requirement, there are significant differences across the
crops. For wheat and vegetables, fairly high seed replacement rates are found 22 percent
and 50 percent of total requirements, respectively. The highest seed replacement rates are
found in maize (above 80%), jute (80%) and sunflowers (100%). However, in vegetables
and jute, only a small percentage of total seed used (10% and 17%, respectively) is
quality seed. The seed replacement rate in rice and potatoes is even lower, at 3.7 percent
and 4.9 percent, respectively.
Available evidence suggests that most formal seed production in Bangladesh is still in the
hands of the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) Seed Wing.
BADC accounts for nearly 95% of total seed flow of certified/quality approved seed.
However, involvement by private sector companies and NGOs has significantly increased
in the recent years. Whilst most private companies are engaged in producing high value
seed such as that of vegetables, hybrid maize and sunflower, NGOs are not restricted to
these crops and have extended production and supply of seed to cereals, oilseeds and
pulses. Seed produced by NGOs is multiplied from Foundation Seeds obtained from
BADC or from certified/quality approved seeds. Hybrid seeds are mainly imported, as
only a few hybrid vegetables have been released by Bangladesh Agricultural Research
Institute (BARI). A considerable quantity of vegetable seeds is also imported. A number
of NGOs are also producing and marketing seeds through their distribution networks,
including seeds for cereals and pulses.
Seed production and distribution business is important from the viewpoint of return and is
also as a strategic sector in view of patent and IPR issues under the AoA. Given the large
market for seeds in Bangladesh, which is expected to grow significantly in the coming
years, there is good investment opportunity in the marketing of high quality seeds in
Bangladesh. Patenting of local varieties and quality improvement through breeding could
be considered as an investment opportunity. This could serve as the building blocs for the
supply side capacity to access the European market in the context of the EBA.
Bangladesh's agro-processing industry suffers from acute shortage of supply of quality

printing and packaging materials. Because of lack of local printing and packaging
capacity required for the agro-products, Bangladesh is not only in a disadvantageous
position in the international market but also fails to effectively compete with imported
agro-processed products in the local market. Quality foil printing, cap printing and
vacuum packaging and bottle manufacturing will be in high demand with the growth of
processing industry in the country. Investment in packaging and printing industry will
lead to considerable import substitution in such areas as packaging and printing and also
facilitate export of agro-products. These could go as inputs for export-oriented agro-
processing industries. Here also government support and technical assistance can play an
important role to promote export potentials of agro-processed goods.

SECTION 6 RULES OF ORIGIN AND SPS-TBT REQUIREMENTS FOR

EXPORTING PRODUCTS TO THE EU MARKET
Rules of Origin and the EU-EBA
As was mentioned, the EU-EBA initiative has left the EC-GSP rules of origin
unchanged. RoO lie at the core of the EC-GSP schemes. RoO criteria set the rules for
determining how and when a product would be recognised as having originated in a
country which is eligible as a beneficiary for the purpose of the EC-GSP Scheme. As
stipulated by Article 67 of the EC Custom Code the criteria for determination of the
GSP are as follows: “a product shall be considered as originating in a beneficiary
country if it has been either wholly obtained on undergone sufficient working or
processing in that country”.
The EC rules of origin, like other GSP schemes, comprise three elements:
(a) Origin criteria;
(b) Direct consignment conditions;
(c) Documentary evidence.
Products wholly obtained: Article 68 of the ECCC lays down a list of products
considered to be wholly obtained. Products fall into this category by virtue of the total
absence of imported input in their production. The following are considered to be
wholly obtained in a country: (a) Vegetable products harvested in beneficiary
countries; (b) Live animals born and raised in beneficiary countries; (c) Products
obtained by hunting or fishing conducted in beneficiary countries; (d) Products of sea
fishing and other products taken from the sea by vessels of beneficiary countries; 16 (e)
Products produced exclusively from products specified in case of the above.
When imported inputs are used in the manufacturing process of a finished product, the
ECCC requires that these non-originating materials be sufficiently worked or
processed. In particular, article 69, paragraph 1, of the ECCC specifies what is
considered sufficient working or processing as follows: “non-originating materials are
considered to be sufficiently worked or processed when the product obtained is
classified in a tariff heading (at the four-digit level) which is different from those in
which all the non-originating materials used in its manufacture are classified. 17
For most articles of apparel and clothing accessories that are not knitted nor
crocheted, classified in HS Chapter 62, the Single List requires manufacture from yarn
16
The terms “their vessels” and “their factory ships” only refer to vessels and factory ships which are
registered or recorded in the beneficiary country or in a member State, which sail under the flag of a
beneficiary country or of a member State or which are owned to the extent of at least 50 per cent by
nationals of the beneficiary country or of a member State or by a company having its head office in the
country or in one of the member States; of which the manager(s), chairman of the board and the
majority of the members of such boards are nationals of that beneficiary country or of the member
State and of which, in the case of companies, at least half the capital belongs to that beneficiary country
or one of the member States or to public bodies or nationals of that beneficiary country or of the
member States; of which the master and officers are nationals of the beneficiary country or one of the
member States; and of which at least 75 per cent of the crew are nationals of the beneficiary country or
of a member State (article 68, paragraph 2, of the ECCC).
17
A derogation from article 69 provides that the total value of the non-originating materials used in the
manufacture of a given product shall not exceed 5 per cent of the ex-works price of the product, subject
to certain conditions (article 71, paragraph 1, of the ECCC).

up. This means that the use of imported fabric would not confer origin. For certain
products, the rule of the single list requires that the value of imported inputs may not
exceed a given percentage of the value of the finished product.
TABLE 6.1: GSP UTILISATION RATE OF BANGLADESH’S

AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS TO EU
Year Eligible Preferential Utilisation Rate (%)

(Million ECU) (Million ECU)
1998 87.83 64.57 73.5
1999 118.62 94.40 79.6
2000 183.66 141.74 77.2
Source: Eurostate (COMEXT) and European Commission Office, Dhaka.
As can be seen from table-6.1 the current GSP utilisation rate of Bangladesh for the
agro-products is about 77.2% in 2000 which was significantly higher than apparels
which stood at about 40% in the corresponding period 18. Compliance with the EU
GSP for agro-products, which follows value addition criteria, is not difficult since the
local value addition is considerably high. However, the difference between exports
eligible for GSP and the actual availability of the facility leaves room for a more
closer look at this issue, as this may have implications in terms of availing the
enhanced market access under the EU-EBA as well.
It is to be noted that the EU-EBA does not change the RoO. Had it been so it would
have extremely important implications for Bangladesh’s export of RMG in the EU.
As is known, at present the EU RoO for GSP requires a two-stage conversion for the
RMG. The impact of the RoO on Bangladesh’s ability to access the GSP benefits
(zero-tariff, zero-quota facility) is clearly visible from table-6.2 which shows that
RoO has severely constrained access to this facility. At present only about 55% of the
RMG export to EU is able to comply with this requirement. Any flexibility in the
RoO would have important implications for accessing the EU market. The EU has,
however, offered SAARC regional cumulation (RC) which together with EU-EBA
could be export-enhancing. A study carried out for Ministry of Commerce (MinCom,
2001) shows that this would lead to an incremental apparel export of $60.0 million by
2004 (0.7% of apparel exports) and of $190.0 million by 2010 (1.4%). 19 However,
this issue has not been discussed here because the focus of the present paper is to
study the implications of the EU-EBA in terms of the newly included export items in
EU’s enhanced list without significant changes in the RoO. It should, however, be
kept in mind that regional cumulation facility is not product or sector specific and all
exports under GSP comes under its purview including agricultural goods. Thus, it will
be in Bangladesh’s interest to also explore the possibility of importing products
accorded zero-tariff, zero-quota access to the EU under the EU-EBA, from the
SAARC regional countries and process those and export these processed products to
the EU. Given (a) limited production of many of the newly included items in
Bangladesh and consequently, (b) the absence of these items in the export basket,
18
The utilisation of GSP in 2002 stood at about 55%.
19
However, the rules of origin restrict the benefits of cumulation to a very small section of the RMG
industry where the domestic value addition exceeds 50 percent. Even if this section of the industry
were to take full advantage of cumulation and grow very rapidly, it will still remain a minor part of the
RMG industry for several years. For details, please see Ministry of Commerce, 2001.

there is a case for exploring export potentials of these items in the EU market by
taking advantage of the RC. For a start, the list of 35 items identified in Annex Table
2 could serve as a good basis for this.
TABLE 6.2: CHANGES IN THE EC RULES OF ORIGIN
Year 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001

Derogation to (Regional Cumulation
EC Proposed)
Woven-RMG 2 Stage Sanction 2 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage
Knit-RMG 3 Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage
GSP 41.2 19.9 31.2 39.9 45.0%

utilisation of
RMG
Source: EC Secretariat.
Derogation could be a possible option (one stage for woven and two stage for knit as
it currently stands). However, such an option can only be considered in conjunction
with taking commensurate steps to safeguard interest of country’s backward linkage
textile industry. Another option could be to change the existing RoO in such a way as
to allow the country to access zero-tariff under RC subject to a certain level of local
value addition, perhaps 25-30 per cent. Global cumulation rather than regional
cumulation has been suggested, with a percentage threshold for local value-addition.
Another alternative option could be a single-jump requirement. Yet another
suggestion was to harmonise the RoO on a global basis which is also set to face
resistance both from some of the GSP donor as well as GSP recipient countries. The
current process criterion is seen as a constraint in accessing the facilities which are
now offered under EU-EBA inspite of the security of the preferential treatment
offered under the EBA. 20 However, since no significant change in the RoO is
envisaged, EU-EBA needs to be seen in light of what has actually been offered, rather
than what might have been if it was otherwise.
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
SPS measures are compatible with the WTO rules, and the UR Agreement also
included negotiated agreements on SPS and related measures. The Agreement on
Agriculture and SPS-TBT provisions in the WTO are in a way mutually reinforcing
and supportive of each other. The EU maintains a rigorous system of control measures
to ensure consumer protection and food safety. Sanitary (human and animal health)
and phytosanitary (animal health) measures take care of whether the goods have
undergone specific treatment or processing of product, whether use of pesticide
residues or permitted use of particular additives in food are within maximum
allowable threshold. As most of the new exports which have come under the ambit of
the new initiatives is related to agri-products, the issue of compliance with SPS-TBT
measures attains critical importance.
20
Given the previously mentioned Green paper, it would be prudent for Bangladesh to conduct indepth
study to formulate suggestions as regards possible changes in the EU RoO.

TABLE 6.3: BANGLADESH EXPORTS FACING NTMS IN THE EU
NTM/SPS-TBT EU
Bangladesh’s exports facing NTM (%) 91.1
Exports facing single NTM (bln USD) 0.14
Bangladesh’s Exports Facing Multiple NTM (bln USD) 1.92
Bangladesh’s Exports Facing NTM incidences:
AD 10
SPS-TBT 265
Total 275
Source: Bhattacharya, B and Mukhopadhyaya, 2002.
As can be seen from table-6.3, almost all exports from Bangladesh to the EU market
are subject to SPS and TBT measures. As reported in the TRAINS – UNCTAD data,
out of 275 incidences faced by Bangladesh in EU in 1998 about 96.3% were on
account of SPS-TBT measures.
A SPS-TBT measure could serve as a very effective trade restrictive measure and very
difficult to contest. The EU countries are particularly sensitive to SPSM related issues
which are most widely used in case of imports of agro-products, both primary and
processed.
The EU has both preventive and monitoring measures to address hygiene and food
safety standards for imports to the EU. Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
(HACCP) is a system used by the food industry in the EU which has been
incorporated into respective legislative requirements by member countries in order to
ensure that all food consumed is safe. HACCP is a systematic approach to hazard
identification, assessment of risk and control.
EU countries are becoming increasingly selective in dealing with their foreign

suppliers and are wanting a strict application of HACCP in the countries of origin of
imported products. In some cases, additional hygienic requirements have been put in
place for their suppliers regarding specific product(s). It should be borne in mind that
with respect to certain regulations and standards the HACCP is more restrictive than
the SPSMs.
There are seven principles incorporated into the HACCP system (Codex 1997):
Principle 1: Assessment of hazards and assessment of risks associated with all stages
and practices of product handling and processing including presence of biological,
physical and chemical nature, antibiotics, additive substances which can adversely
affect food safety.
Principle 2: Determination of the points/procedures/operational steps that can be

controlled to eliminate the hazard(s) or minimize its likelihood of occurrence -
Critical Control Point (CCP).
Principle 3: Establishment of critical limits.
Principle 4: Establishment of a monitoring system to demonstrate that the CCP is

under control.

Principle 5: Establishment of a procedure for corrective action when the CCP is seen
to be moving out of control.
Principle 6: Introduction of verification procedures to confirm the effectiveness of the

HACCP system.
Procedures for verification must be established to ensure that the HACCP system is
working correctly. Monitoring and auditing methods, procedures and tests including
random sampling and analysis can be used for this purpose.
Principle 7: Establishment of documentation and records to demonstrate that the

HACCP system is working effectively.
If Bangladesh is to exploit the market opportunities through export of agro and food
products, an HACCP monitoring cell will need to be put in place to ensure
compliance at the point of production. This will require keeping records at the firm
level as regards (a) ingredients, (b) product safety, (c) processing, (d) packaging, and
(e) storage, distribution and marketing. Technical assistance may be sought to ensure
capacity building in these areas.
General Principles and Requirements of EU Food Law
European Food Safety Authority is the watchdog that monitors imports from the
perceptive of food safety and laying down food safety procedures.
EU regulations on food provide the basis for ensuring a high level protection of
human health and consumers’ interest, taking into account the diversity in the supply
of food. These regulations lay down the general principles governing food and feed in
general, and food and feed safety in particular, at community and national levels.
EU Food law aims to establish a set of guidelines to establish the safe production and
free movement of food and feed products. There are a number of components in the
food law:
(a) Risk Analysis. Food law is based on risk analysis to achieve the general
objective of a high level of protection of human health and life. The risk
assessment is based on available scientific evidence and is undertaken in an
independent, objective and transparent manner;
(b) Precautionary Principle. Though an assessment is done by scientific evidence,
in case of uncertainty the EC conducts more comprehensive risk assessment to
ensure total health protection;
(c) Protection of Consumers’ Interests. While Food law aims for the protection of
consumers’ rights, it also targets the prevention of; i) fraudulent or deceptive
practices; ii) adulteration of food; and iii) any other practices which may
mislead the consumer; and
(d) Food and Feed Imported into the Community. Imports of food and feed must
comply with local laws or conditions, and to standards set by any bilateral
agreements between trading countries.

Food Safety Requirements include the following:
• Unsafe food, which is injurious to health and unfit for human consumption,
will not be placed in the market.
• The particular food will be deemed as injurious to health if,
a. The food causes health disorders not only in the short/long term but
also to future generations;
b. It has toxic effects; or
c. It is consumed by a group of consumers who were not originally the
target group.
• Food will be considered unfit for humans if,
a. It is unacceptable for human consumption due to extraneous matter or
through putrefaction, deterioration or decay;
b. It is a part of a consignment of food of the same class or description
which has already been declared unsafe;
c. It fails to comply with specific Community provisions.
Since the potential export opportunities opened up by the EU-EBA relate mostly to
agro and food items, compliance with these SPS-TBT Standards are likely to become
important factors in realising those potentials. As such policy support in the areas
identified both in the form of incentives as well as direct technical support will be
crucial in the above context.
SECTION 7 CAPACITY BUILDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS
Supply Side Constraints and TA Needs
Technical assistance needs to be addressed in order to access the opportunities offered

under the EU-EBA initiative should command urgent attention both at policy and
implementation levels. The discussion in the preceding sections has identified a
number of constraints in some of the areas where export potentials exist in view of the
EU-EBA preferential treatment. Specific actions will need to be designed to address
these. Most of the required actions relate to macroeconomic policies, and efficacy of
incentives and effectiveness of institutions in implementing those policies. It is not the
objective of this study to address the whole gamut of supply side responses that would
be required to enhance the export capacities to access the EU market under the newly
introduced initiative. However, in view of the above, an attempt here has been made
to articulate some of the major areas where capacity building support and technical
assistance would be required to address in particular the SPS-TBT issues associated
with the market access of the identified products.
Foregoing analysis allude to the need for assistance in the area of development of high
quality seed for identified products, transfer of technology and technical know-how to
raise productivity in agro-processing units, raising of awareness about SPS-TBT rules
and regulations and compliance requirement at the enterprise level, support to upgrade
fashion, for catering to packaging requirements for agro-products, for marketing of
identified products, design and quality of apparels and leather products and ability to
move upmarket, and targeted support for enhancing local knowledge on advanced
technology required to produce the identified products. Common services for skill

development, affluent treatment facilities, process and product modification of the

identified products will need to be put on place.
From global and regional experience, it appears that promotion and development of
clusters could be a suitable strategic intervention both in terms of developing the
required supply side capacities and also for best utilisation of the technical assistance
programmes. The need for support services in terms of quality assurance, SPS-TBT
compliance and marketing is also reinforced by the fact that most of the potential
suppliers of the newly inducted products are likely to be small and medium
enterprises. Promotion of clusters offers a good ground for product and process
innovation and modification, technology upgradation and collective efficiency gains
by way of addressing common challenges such as access to institutional credit, expert
services, testing laboratory facilities, training facilities and quality related solutions.
In some cases, development of national standards laws is essential in the medium
term.
Public-private partnerships may be developed to address some of the attendant tasks.

Vocational training institutions may be reorganised in a manner that particular
institutions cater to the needs of capacity development for particular groups of
products.
In the context of the ongoing process of regional trade cooperation, the opportunities
of horizontal and vertical integration within the region by taking advantage of the
market access provided to Bangladesh under the EU-EBA initiative should also be
taken due cognisance of. The SAFTA agreement envisages technical assistance to the
LDCs. Exploring the SAFTA track to attract technical assistance towards capacity
building in areas that may stimulate export to the EU also needs to be considered.
Standards and certification accreditation requirements to address various TBT

concerns will require technical support to be accorded to the producers. Towards this
the capacity of standardisation and certification institutions will need to be further
enhanced through technical support.
Compliance with rules of origin requirements and monitoring their compliance and
administering the requisite certification procedures will also test the limits of the
respective implementational agencies. This could be an important area of technical
assistance. This is becoming all the more important in view of the competing demands
arising out of Bangladesh’s membership in various RTAs and the multiple GSP
Schemes of which Bangladesh is a beneficiary. 21 Technical Support to strengthen
capacity for RoO certification could prove to be crucial in ensuring secured market
access under the various preferential schemes. Export opportunities in agro-products
is particularly associated with, and often constrained by ADD-TBT related measures.
Capacity building in the area of ADD-T BT to tackle any contentious issues through
the dispute settlement mechanism (DSM) of the WTO may prove to be important.
The EPB has identified a number of areas where further action is required to enhance
export of agro-processed goods: (a) limited cargo space in aeroplanes; (b) slow
response of the agro-sector to changing market demands (in production, marketing
21
The so-called ‘spaghetti bowl’ of rules of origin.

and distribution); (c) lack of Cool Chain Transportation services; (d) lack of
improved packaging systems; (e) high rate of air freight; and (f) compliance with
SPS-TBT requirements.
Successive export policies have come up with a number of policy initiatives to

stimulate the export of agricultural goods from Bangladesh. Besides the general fiscal
and financial incentives which are applicable for all exports, some of the incentives
targeted to promote particularly agro-exports have been: (a) recognition of agro-
products and agro-processing goods as one of three sectors accorded highest priority
in export policy 2003-2006; (b) a cash compensation scheme for agricultural and
agro-based exports at the rate of 25% (which has recently been raised to 30%); (c)
support to the agro-processing sector under the EEF operated by the Bangladesh Bank
with the help of commercial banks. (d) waiver of royalties from foreign airlines to
facilitate agro-exports; (e) with the help of the Hortex Foundation, technical
assistance has been provided to agro-products exporters to enhance their capacity in
the field of production, grading, packaging, transportation and distribution; (f)
facilitation of the participation of agro-exporters in various international trade fairs;
(g) the interest rate for the export credit was fixed at 7%; (h) the facility of subsidised
cargo-freight for export of fruits and vegetables.
Since the newly inducted products concern mostly small producers, it should be
stressed that SMEs should be particularly targeted to realise the potential benefits of
the market openings under the new EU-EBA initiative. The government has recently
put in place an initiative to develop the SMEs sector. Special attention will need to be
paid to connect the SMEs with the emerging market access opportunities emanating
from the initiatives taken by the EU.
Active measures should be pursued to attract financial resources available under the
WTO’s IF and JITAP initiatives in order to mobilise the required funds for the
development of the identified products under the new initiative. Modalities to
facilitate access of funds from the MGF and EEF facilities, by taking cognisance of
the special needs of the identified sectors, should be developed. 22
In order to promote diversification of the country’s export base, a renewed effort

needs to be taken to promote the export-oriented agro-processing sector of the
country. In recent years Bangladesh’s entrepreneurs have indeed been able to develop
some capacities in the related areas. However, much needs to be done if this capacity
is to be strengthened to maximise the potential benefits of the EBA Scheme. In recent
years agro-exporters group and Associations have come with a number of suggestions
to strengthen the supply side capacities and promote production and marketing of
agro-products. Some of these are presented below:
• In order to promote product development, research, testing, quality control,

microbiological and nutritional evaluation and training, a Food Technology
Research Institute should be set up. The Central Food Technology Research
22
Policy support could include exemptions from leviable duties as is in practice in case of Indian
exports of agri-products. For example, basic duty on Bangladesh’s export to Nepal of agro-processed
products to Nepal is 35% though similar Indian products receive 20% duty exemption.

Institute (CFTRI) in India could serve as an example of such institutional

support.
• Packaging is an important step in the value chain of export-oriented agro-
processing. Towards capacity building in this area, a Packaging Development
Institute needs to be set up to address the attendant felt needs. Alternately a
VTI may be specially designated to service the needs.
• A separate wing may be set up within the EPB to particularly promote the
interest of this sector (e.g. Agricultural Processed Food Products Wing).
APEDA in India could serve as an example in this context. Such an agency
could offer financial and technical assistance to the sector and steer capacity
building in this sector.
• Product specific research institutions should be set up to promote export-
oriented agro-products. These may include Research Centres for Mango,
Spices and Pulses and development of Aromatic Rice varieties.
Discussion with major stakeholders indicates that Bangladesh’s policymakers will

need to focus their attention on a number of areas if the country is to reap the potential
benefits of the window of opportunity opened by the EU-EBA. The CPD Task Forces
on Export Sector set up under its Policy Brief initiatives also came up with a number
of important suggestions in this regard. Some of the possible policy interventions
could include the followings:
o Provide credit, interest and tax support and other facilities/incentives to

promote export-oriented agro-processing by taking cognisance of the
specific characters of agro-based industries (e.g. relatively longer gestation
period) in designing the supportive policies for this sector.
o For supporting preservation of horticulture products, imports of related

equipment such as reaper vans and refrigerated-containers should be
exempted from duty and VAT.
o To support food processing industries imports of preserving chemicals and

technology should be exempted from tax, VAT and duty.
o Establishment of an "Exporting Firms Group" based on export markets

should be encouraged and supported through credit, tax, VAT and duty
exemption facilities, and technology transfer.
o Provide credit, tax, VAT and duty facilities for imports of technology to
support standard packaging.
o Air cargo space for the export of agro-products should be increased and
other facilities including offloading and cool room facilities in cargo sheds
should be enhanced.
o Reduce export freight charges to regional levels.
o Support overseas market research for agro-exports through projects such as

the Matching Grant Facility (MGF).

o Institutionalise and implement quality control measures. The BSTI should be

equipped with appropriate technology and qualified manpower to support
standardisation of export-oriented agro-industry products.
o Support the development of suitable varieties such as baby corn, french

bean, okra, mushroom etc. and promote their introduction in the market,
both domestic and overseas.
o Strengthen laboratory testing capacity and internationally recognised

certificate issuance capacity.
o Harmonise fiscal and tariff structures; existing anomalies in duty structure,

which levy a higher duty on raw materials, inputs and packaging as against
processed imports and thus make locally produced agro products relatively
uncompetitive, will have to be removed.
o Establish intermediate input industries, i.e packaging, bottling, printing, etc.
o Develop an effective infrastructure for the transportation of perishables.
o Provide bonded warehouse facilities to enable agro-industries to import

their inputs.
o Establish a HYV seed research and multiplication institute.
o Establish an agricultural product development authority to offer one window

assistance to local exporters and foreign importers of agro-based industries.
o Ensure adequate human resource development through the establishment of

a food technology institute with modern facilities.
o The revised EU-GSP Scheme for 2006-2015 strongly articulates the need for
capacity building through technical assistance to enable LDCs to realise the
potential opportunities originating from the EC-GSP Scheme. In view of the
above felt-needs, Bangladesh should prepare concrete proposals for
technical assistance from the EU to address the relevant tasks.
o Make best use of the ongoing regional trading negotiations with a view to
enhance opportunities of exporting agro-based and agro-processed goods to
the EU.
o Analyse the outcomes of the ongoing negotiations in Geneva as regards the

Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) in order to identify the market
opportunities in the EU under the EBA in the context of further
liberalisation of the markets for agri-goods products.
Some of the areas where TA proposals could be developed to attract the required
support could include the followings:
• Capacity building to deal with trade remedies including ADD and CVD cases.

• Capacity building at the enterprise level to ensure compliance with SPS-TBT

standards.
• Training in SPS-TBT issues for the entrepreneurs.
• Support for promotion of marketing of the identified agri-products in the EU.
SECTION 8 CONCLUDING REMARKS
Commercially meaningful market access in the developed countries has been one of
the major demands of LDCs in recent years. This demand has been reinforced in view
of the increasing marginalisation of the LDCs in the global trading system and in the
context of their lack of capacity to integrate into the process of globalisation from a
position of strength. Indeed, market access issues have been very much on the
agendas in both the GATT and the WTO, and the Doha Work Plan also included
setting up of a Negotiating Group on Market Access (NGMA) to deal with the
attendant relevant issues. However, bilateral and plurilateral initiatives in terms of
providing enhanced market access to the LDCs continue to remain important
particularly in view of the slow progress of negotiations in the WTO and in view of
the failure of the Cancun Ministerial Meeting of the WTO.
The EU-EBA initiative is thus important for Bangladesh because it provides crucial
market access opportunities to Bangladesh’s increasingly trade-driven economy. This
initiative has created potential export opportunities for the agricultural goods.
However, as our analyses of new market opportunities, price relatives, domestic
supply side capacities and potential competitors demonstrate, Bangladesh will need to
do a lot of homework if the incremental potential benefits are to be translated into
realised benefits.
Our analysis in the foregoing sections indicates that new market opportunities have
emerged in the EU market in the export of garlic, rice, molasses, sugar products,
vegetables and like products. Some of the market openings provide immediate export
opportunities, whilst in some of the others (such as rice and sugar products) the
benefits are staggered.
The analyses in the foregoing sections indicate that for each of the identified areas of
potential market opportunities a number of steps will now need to be undertaken.
These steps are both market specific and product specific. Accessing the markets for
agricultural products in the EU is very much tuned to the issues of compliance with
SPS-TBT issues; these sets of demands emanating from the market place will require
targeted interventions at the policy level and also call for initiatives at the level of
enterprises.
Whether the new initiative can be translated into commercially meaningful market
access will hinge on initiatives both at the level of entrepreneurs and at the
government level. In the preceding sections a number of areas have been identified
where targeted technical assistance may help Bangladesh’s entrepreneurs to enhance
their capacities to access the offered market access opportunities.
In a fast changing global context opportunities and risks tend to go hand in hand. The
opportunities are always potential, on the other hand the risks have a tendency to turn

out to be real. The market opportunities that have been discussed here come at a time
of heightened competitive pressure in the global market, and in the face of erosion of
preferential margins under the ongoing tariff liberalisation implemented by the
developed countries. Whilst the EBA initiative is an welcome development from
Bangladesh’s perspective, what its actual worth on the ground will depend on the
extent to which Bangladesh is able to address the supply side issues by successfully
blending the required entrepreneurial initiatives, effective government interventions
and targeted trade related technical assistance.

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ANNEXES

ANNEX TABLE 1: TITLES OF SELECTED TARIFF LINES

HS8
07032000 Garlic, fresh or chilled

07092000 Fresh or chilled asparagus
07119030 Sweetcorn provisionally preserved, but unsuitable in that state for immediate consumption
10061023 Medium grain rice in husk, parboiled
10062013 Medium rain usked-brown-rice, arboiled
10062017 Long rain usked-brown-rice, lngth/width ratio >= 3, parboiled
10062098 Long grain husked-brown-rice, length/widthratio >= 3 (excl, parboiled)
10063061 Wholly milled round grain rice, parboiled
10063067 Wholly milled long grain rice, length/widthratio >= 3, parboiled
10063092 Wholly milled round grainrice, (excl, parboiled)
10063094 Wholly milled medium grain rice, (excl, parboiled)
10063096 Wholly milled long grainrice, length/width >2 but<3, (excl, parboiled)
17019910 White sugar, containingin dry state>=99,5% sucrose (excl, flavoured or coloured)
17019990 Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid Form (excl, cane and beet sugar containing added
17029099 Sugar, including invert sugar, solid and sugar syrups not Containing added flavouringor colouring matter
17031000 Cane molasses resulting from the extraction or refining Of sugar
17039000 Beet molasses resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar
19021910 Uncooked pasta, not stuffed or otherwise prepared, not Containing common wheat flour or meal or eggs
19021990 Uncooked pasta, not stuffed or other wiseprepared, containing common wheatflour or meal but no eggs
19023010 Dried, prepared pasta (excl, stuffed)
19023090 Pasta, cooked or other wise prepared (excl, stuffed or dried pasta)
19030000 Tapioca and substitutes therefore prepared from starch, in The form of flakes, grains, pearls, siftings or similar forms
19041030 Prepared foods obtained by swelling or roasting cereals Or cereal products based on rice
19042095 Prepared foods obtained from unroasted cereal flakes or From mixtures of unroasted cereal flakes and roasted
19049010 Rice, pre-cooked or otherwise prepared (excl, by swelling Or roasting)
19053059 Sweet biscuits, whether or not containing cocoa, Containing < 8 % milkfats (excl, coated or covered with
19053099 Waffles and wafers, whether or not filled (excl, salted And with water content of > 10 %)
19059045 Biscuits (excl, sweet biscuits)
19059055 Extruded or expanded products, savoury or salted
19059060 Fruit tarts, currant bread, panettone, meringues, Christmas stollen, croissants and other bakers' wares
19059090 Pizzas, quiches and other unsweetened bakers' wares (excl, crispbread, gingerbread and the like, sweet biscuits,
20098032 Juice of passionfruit or guavas, of density > 1,33, of value =< 30 ecu per 100 kg, unfermented, (not containing added
20098033 Juice of mangoes, mangosteens, papaws 'papayas', Tamarinds, cashew apples, lychees, jackfruit, sapodillo
22042179 White wine of fresh grapes, in containers holding =< 2 l and Of an actual alcoholic strength by volume of =< 13% vo
22042180 Wine of fresh grapes, incl, wine and grape mustwith Fermentation arrested or interrupted by the addition of
Source: Harmonised System of Codes.

ANNEX TABLE 2: BANGLADESH’S EXPORT TO EU OF THE INCLUDED NEWLY ITEMS: VALUE, VOLUME AND UNIT PRICE
HS8 BD Export to EU [Value 1000 ECU] BD Export to EU [Volume Ton] BD Export to EU Unit Price 1000ECU/Ton EU Import from World: Total value 1000 ECU
1990 1995 1999 2000 2001 2002 1990 1995 1999 2000 2001 2002 1990 1995 1999 2000 2001 2002 1990 1995 1999 2000 2001 2002
07032000 78.41 150.2 0.52 35824 32421 41021 30062 42886 52407
07092000 3 16.79 13.8 1 7.1 6.4 3.00 2.36 2.16 15277 18755 35863 41891 49064 58646
07119030 2 1 2.00 168 74 40 480 525 335
10061023 1.08 3.1 0.35 3 29 9 11 23 20
10062013 10.72 17.8 0.60 66 47 28 50 93 130
10062017 2.61 4 0.65 66872 41697 63231 62537 59051 45637
10062098 10.28 22 0.47 86891 71940 215717 207004 232296 207074
10063061 1 2 0.50 22 20 52 77 107 53
10063067 3 3 1.00 1079 2707 25658 18713 19231 18644
10063092 1 1 2 1 0.50 1.00 696 849 1012 754 863 1082
10063094 1.09 138.04 1 302.2 1.09 0.46 5161 7906 5033 5115 5095 3961
10063096 1.14 2.5 0.46 2300 698 1482 2361 1919 1741
17019910 1 1.28 1.2 1.07 38864 43883 72534 66894 92841 208422
17019990 4 1 4.00 185 420 236 594 827 1679
17029099 6 9.81 17.06 15 20 35.5 0.40 0.49 0.48 12169 4094 2994 3465 2650
17031000 58 1000 0.06 199314 238796 135592 169606 214745 194554
17039000 20 14 5 18.2 16 14 8 29.8 1.25 1.00 0.63 0.61 32245 56740 42329 39392 46825 57928
19021910 1.72 0.85 1.4 1.2 1.23 0.71 4399 5002 5285 6141 6041 6536
19021990 3 2 3.45 6.71 3 1 2.3 5 1.00 2.00 1.50 1.34 2176 3632 5324 5974 7586 6494
19023010 3 4.14 2 3.4 1.50 1.22 11273 29367 47201 60362 61949 64790
19023090 2 2 1.00 2059 5772 15894 17963 16889 13456
19030000 4.57 5.4 0.85 1539 1668 1869 2201 2147 2208
19041030 2 2 5.02 9.26 1 1 5.6 10.3 2.00 2.00 0.90 0.90 837 544 893 2324 2699 1994
19042095 1.13 0.9 1.26 221 240 263 700
19049010 2 9.48 12.07 2 8.4 12.5 1.00 1.13 0.97 1982 1556 2877 2703 3281 3305
19053059 3 1 2 1 1.50 1.00 10348 10890 20655 20052 26065
19053099 2 1 2.00 12969 6106 7916 10169 9775
19059045 5 14.66 42.72 3 10.6 37.4 1.67 1.38 1.14 15432 22033 21576 16727 20165
19059055 2 1 2.00 35434 29786 35397 40144 47149
19059060 5 3 3 1.67 0.00 14507 18328 51425 53071 61415 52790
19059090 18.31 18.83 13.2 14.1 1.39 1.34 14552 26052 31470 44371 57883 61833
20098032 2.65 6.6 0.40 156 171 220 142 183
20098033 6 0.66 10 1.3 0.60 0.51 38 70 256 75 96
22042179 2 1 1 1 0 2.00 147737 346226 433748 497977 435651
22042180 1 2 2 1 0 172172 482238 495466 615457 473257
Total 60 37 27 43 91.01 385.53 1001 29 27 46 84.8 657.6 573777 996868 1715485 1860769 2196370.44 2045570.18

ANNEX TABLE 2 (CONTD.)

HS8 EU Import from World: Total Volume Ton EU Import from World: Unit Price 1000ECU/Ton
1990 1995 1999 2000 2001 2002 1990 1995 1999 2000 2001 2002
07032000 28362 37904 40177 34979 43039 46922 1.26 0.86 1.02 0.86 1.00 1.1169
07092000 5716 7855 12603 20449 14517 17845 2.67 2.39 2.85 2.05 3.38 3.2865
07119030 176 67 32 466 497 407 0.95 1.10 1.25 1.03 1.06 0.8232
10061023 4 70 19 20 23 36 0.75 0.41 0.47 0.55 1.01 0.5613
10062013 82 110 44 73 125 144 0.80 0.43 0.64 0.68 0.74 0.9059
10062017 222437 159895 164276 156459 166434 155691 0.30 0.26 0.38 0.40 0.35 0.2931
10062098 248871 180479 429417 413899 479886 486378 0.35 0.40 0.50 0.50 0.48 0.4257
10063061 18 26 73 110 198 79 1.22 0.77 0.71 0.70 0.54 0.6671
10063067 2123 5340 41741 30116 32493 36202 0.51 0.51 0.61 0.62 0.59 0.5150
10063092 2053 1379 1087 790 916 1347 0.34 0.62 0.93 0.95 0.94 0.8033
10063094 15708 25472 8059 6044 6301 5475 0.33 0.31 0.62 0.85 0.81 0.7235
10063096 5443 1223 2217 3235 3096 3427 0.42 0.57 0.67 0.73 0.62 0.5081
17019910 78374 86716 125343 114314 150241 346894 0.50 0.51 0.58 0.59 0.62 0.6008
17019990 210 587 144 554 429 1765 0.88 0.72 1.64 1.07 1.93 0.9510
17029099 3947 3963 5063 4782 3691 3.08 1.03 0.59 0.72 0.7179
17031000 2960884 3117176 2559373 2444956 2251962 2446628 0.07 0.08 0.05 0.07 0.10 0.0795
17039000 407745 621881 594571 429169 394056 553668 0.08 0.09 0.07 0.09 0.12 0.1046
19021910 5695 6914 6523 7079 7198 8261 0.77 0.72 0.81 0.87 0.84 0.7912
19021990 1819 3093 3555 4610 5579 5159 1.20 1.17 1.50 1.30 1.36 1.2587
19023010 7757 20816 30661 35357 37212 42307 1.45 1.41 1.54 1.71 1.66 1.5314
19023090 1539 3543 10181 10290 9352 1.34 1.63 1.76 1.64 1.4388
19030000 2594 2405 2460 2655 2597 2902 0.59 0.69 0.76 0.83 0.83 0.7607
19041030 281 223 409 815 943 680 2.98 2.44 2.18 2.85 2.86 2.9312
19042095 152 125 142 216 1.45 1.92 1.86 3.2490
19049010 2400 1291 2271 1552 1442 1720 0.83 1.21 1.27 1.74 2.28 1.9213
19053059 3068 4994 9299 8794 11556 3.37 2.18 2.22 2.28 2.26
19053099 6342 2617 4186 4102 2.04 2.33 2.43 2.38
19059045 5237 6718 7116 6791 7902 2.95 3.28 3.03 2.46 2.5520
19059055 14501 12002 12246 15249 19147 2.44 2.48 2.89 2.63 2.4624
19059060 5565 7554 16809 22813 22434 2.61 2.43 3.16 2.69 2.3531
19059090 8517 12608 14856 17829 20919 25819 1.71 2.07 2.12 2.49 2.77 2.3949
20098032 90 58 124 62 70 1.73 2.95 1.77 2.30 2.6291
20098033 44 122 664 85 188 0.86 0.57 0.39 0.88 0.5116
22042179 82461 136900 158992 174116 175223 1.79 2.53 2.73 2.86 2.4863
22042180 104301 182555 193294 218320 177789 1.65 2.64 2.56 2.82 2.6619
Total 4027730 4518872 4391680 4143124 4088407.6 4605765.6
Source: Compiled and Computed from Eurostat 2003 Data.

ANNEX TABLE 3: TARIFF AND SPECIFIC DUTIES ON BANGLADESH’S NEWLY INCLUDED EXPORT ITEMS UNDER EU-EBA
Tariff Rate Effective Tariff Effective Gain 1990 Effective Gain 1995 Effective Gain 1999 Effective Gain 2000 Effective Gain 2001 Effective Gain 2002
HS8 LDC-GSP
Fixed PREF TREAT Fixed
Ad val Ad val Ad valorem Fixed ECU Ad valorem Fixed ECU Ad valorem Fixed ECU Ad valorem Fixed ECU Ad valorem Fixed ECU Ad valorem Fixed ECU
(ECU/Ton) (ECU)
07032000 9.60% 100% 0% 0 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
07092000 10.20% 100% 0% 0 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
07119030 5.10% 94 100% 0% 94 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 94.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
10061023 211 0% 0% 211 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 654.10
10062013 264 0% 0% 264 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 4699.20
10062017 264 0% 0% 264 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 1056.00 0.00% 0.00
10062098 264 0% 0% 264 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 5808.00
10063061 416 0% 0% 416 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 832.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
10063067 416 0% 0% 416 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 1248.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
10063092 416 0% 0% 416 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 832.00 0.00% 416.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
10063094 416 0% 0% 416 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 416.00 0.00% 125715.20
10063096 416 0% 0% 416 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 1040.00
17019910 419 0% 0% 419 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 502.80 0.00% 0.00
17019990 419 0% 0% 419 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 419.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
17029099 4 15% 0% 3.4 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 51.00 0.00% 68.00 0.00% 120.70
17031000 3.5 0% 0% 3.5 0.00% 3500.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
17039000 3.5 0% 0% 3.5 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 56.00 0.00% 49.00 0.00% 28.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 104.30
19021910 7.70% 246 100% 0% 246 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 344.40 0.00% 295.20
19021990 7.70% 211 100% 0% 211 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 633.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 211.00 0.00% 485.30 0.00% 1055.00
19023010 6.40% 246 100% 0% 246 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 492.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 836.40 0.00% 0.00
19023090 6.40% 97 100% 0% 97 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 194.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
19030000 6.40% 151 100% 0% 151 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 815.40
19041030 5.10% 460 100% 0% 460 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 460.00 0.00% 460.00 0.00% 2576.00 0.00% 4738.00
19042095 5.10% 460 100% 0% 460 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 414.00
19049010 8.30% 460 100% 0% 460 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 920.00 0.00% 3864.00 0.00% 5750.00
19053059 9% 100% 0% 0 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
19053099 9% 100% 0% 0 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
19059045 9% 100% 0% 0 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
19059055 9% 100% 0% 0 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
19059060 9% 100% 0% 0 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
19059090 9% 100% 0% 0 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
20098032 21% 129 100% 0% 129 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 851.40 0.00% 0.00
20098033 33.60% 206 100% 0% 206 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 2060.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 267.80
13.1 13.1
22042179 ECU/hl 0% 0% ECU/hl 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 13.10 0.00% 13.10 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
13.1 13.1
22042180 ECU/hl 0% 0% ECU/hl 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 13.10 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0.00
Total 0.00% 3500 0.00% 2858.1 0.00% 2293.2 0.00% 4343 0.00% 11000.3 0.00% 151476.9
Source: Computed from EUROSTAT 2003 Data.

ANNEX TABLE 4: POULTRY PRODUCTS AND EGG ITEMS IN THE EU-EBA AND MFN TARIFF
HS Tariff Rate
Item Name Ad Val Fixed
02071110 Fresh or chilled, plucked and gutted fowls of species gallus domesticus, with heads and feet 262 €/T
02071130 Fresh or chilled, plucked and drawn fowls of species gallus domesticus, without heads and feet but with necks 299 €/T
02071190 Fresh or chilled, plucked and drawn fowls of species gallus domesticus, without heads, feet, necks, hearts 325 €/T
02071210 Frozen fowls of species gallus domesticus, plucked and drawn, without heads and feet but with necks, hearts 299 €/T
02071290 Frozen fowls of species gallus domesticus, plucked and drawn, without heads, feet, necks, hearts, livers 325 €/T
02071310 Fresh or chilled boneless cuts of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 1024 €/T
02071320 Fresh or chilled halves and quarters of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 358 €/T
02071330 Fresh or chilled whole wings, with or without tips, of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 269 €/T
02071340 Fresh or chilled backs, necks, backs with necks attached, rumps and wing tips of fowls of the species gallus 187 €/T
02071350 Fresh or chilled unboned breasts and cuts thereof of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 602 €/T
02071360 Fresh or chilled unboned legs and cuts thereof of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 463 €/T
02071370 Fresh or chilled unboned cuts of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 1008 €/T
02071391 Fresh or chilled edible livers of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 6.4%
02071399 Fresh or chilled edible offal of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 187 €/T
02071410 Frozen boneless cuts of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 1024 €/T
02071420 Frozen halves or quarters of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 358 €/T
02071430 Frozen whole wings, with or without tips, of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 269 €/T
02071440 Frozen backs, necks, backs with necks attached, rumps and wing tips of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 187 €/T
02071450 Frozen unboned breasts and cuts thereof of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 602 €/T
02071460 Frozen unboned legs and cuts thereof of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 463 €/T
02071470 Frozen unboned cuts of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 1008 €/T
02071499 Frozen edible offal of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 187 €/T
04070011 Turkey or goose eggs for hatching 105 €/1000 pces

04070019 Poultry eggs for hatching 35 €/1000 pces
04070030 Poultry eggs, in shell, fresh, preserved or cooked 304 €/T
04081180 Egg yolks, dried, for human consumption, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter 1423 €/T
04081981 Egg yolks, liquid, suitable for human consumption, whether ornot containing added sugar or other sweetening matter 620 €/T
04081989 Egg yolks (other than liquid), frozen or otherwise preserved, suitable for human consumption 663 €/T
04089180 Dried birds' eggs, not in shell, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter 1374 €/T
04089980 Birds' eggs, not in shell, fresh, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water, moulded, frozen or otherwise preserved 353 €/T
16023211 Uncooked, prepared or preserved meat or meat offal of fowlsofthe species gallus domesticus containing >= 57% 867 €/T
16023219 Cooked, prepared or preserved meat or meat offal of fowlsofthe species gallus domesticus containing >= 57% 10.9%
16023230 Prepared or preserved meat or meat offal of fowls of the species gallus domesticus containing >= 25% but< 57% meat 10.9%
16023290 Prepared or preserved meat or meat offal of fowls of the species gallus domesticus 10.9%

ANNEX TABLE 5: IMPORT OF POULTRY PRODUCTS AND EGG ITEMS IN 2000
Intra EU Extra EU World

HS 8 Value in Volume Unit Price Value in Volume Unit Price Value in Volume Unit Price
1000 € in Ton 1000€/Ton 1000 € in Ton 1000€/Ton 1000 € in Ton 1000€/Ton
Fresh or chilled, plucked and gutted fowls of
species gallus domesticus, with heads and
15108 15692 0.96 1 1 1.00 15109 15693 0.96
feet,called'83 %
(02071110)
Fresh or chilled, plucked and drawn fowls of
species gallus domesticus, without heads and
22812 11244 2.03 49 38 1.29 22861 11282 2.03
feet but with necks,
(02071130)
Frozen fowls of species gallus domesticus,
plucked and drawn, without heads, feet,
70148 55866 1.26 5821 5645 1.03 75969 61511 1.24
necks, hearts, livers
(02071290)
Fresh or chilled unboned breasts and cuts
thereof of fowls of the species gallus
214645 71369 3.01 12990 5498 2.36 227635 76867 2.96
domesticus
(02071350)
Frozen halves or quarters of fowls of the
species gallus domesticus 18415 20360 0.90 60 74 0.81 18475 20434 0.90
(02071420)
Turkey or goose eggs for hatching
23579 1509 15.63 17666 1607 10.99 41245 3116 13.24
(04070011)
Poultry eggs for hatching
63839 23084 2.77 7999 1048 7.63 71838 24132 2.98
(04070019)
Poultry eggs, in shell, fresh, preserved or
cooked 443168 480544 0.92 9062 11609 0.78 452230 492153 0.92
(04070030)
Source: Based on Eurostat Data.

ANNEX TABLE 6: IMPORT DUTIES ON RICE AND BROKEN RICE
Duties (5)
CN code Third countries (except
Basmati India and
ACP and Bangladesh) ACP (1)(2)(3) Bangladesh (4) Egypt (8)
Pakistan (6)
(3)
1006 10 21 (7) 69,51 101,16 158,25
1006 10 23 (7) 69,51 101,16 158,25
1006 10 25 (7) 69,51 101,16 158,25
1006 10 27 (7) 69,51 101,16 158,25
1006 10 92 (7) 69,51 101,16 158,25
1006 10 94 (7) 69,51 101,16 158,25
1006 10 96 (7) 69,51 101,16 158,25
1006 10 98 (7) 69,51 101,16 158,25
1006 20 11 264,00 88,06 127,66 198,00
1006 20 13 264,00 88,06 127,66 198,00
1006 20 15 264,00 88,06 127,66 198,00
1006 20 17 264,00 88,06 127,66 14,00 198,00
1006 20 92 264,00 88,06 127,66 198,00
1006 20 94 264,00 88,06 127,66 198,00
1006 20 96 264,00 88,06 127,66 198,00
1006 20 98 264,00 88,06 127,66 14,00 198,00
1006 30 21 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 23 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 25 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 27 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 42 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 44 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 46 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 48 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 61 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 63 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 65 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 67 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 92 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 94 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 96 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 30 98 (7) 133,21 193,09 312,00
1006 40 00 (7) 41,18 (7) 96,00
(1) The duty on imports of rice originating in the ACP States is applicable, under the arrangements laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No
1706/98 (OJ L 215, 1.8.1998, p. 12) and amended Commission Regulation (EC) No 2603/97 (OJ L 351, 23.12.1997, p. 22).
In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1706/98, the duties are not applied to products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific
(2)
States and imported directly into
the overseas department of Réunion.
(3) The import levy on rice entering the overseas department of Réunion is specified in Article 11(3) of Regulation (EC) No 3072/95.
The duty on imports of rice not including broken rice (CN code 1006 40 00), originating in Bangladesh is applicable under the
(4)
arrangements laid down in Council
Regulation (EEC) No 3491/90 (OJ L 337, 4.12.1990, p. 1) and amended Commission Regulation (EEC) No 862/91 (OJ L 88, 9.4.1991, p.
7).
(5) No import duty applies to products originating in the OCT pursuant to Article 101(1) of amended Council Decision 91/482/EEC (OJ L
263, 19.9.1991, p. 1).
(6) For husked rice of the Basmati variety originating in India and Pakistan, a reduction of EUR/t 250 applies (Article 4a of amended
Regulation (EC) No 1503/96).
(7) Duties fixed in the Common Customs Tariff.
The duty on imports of rice originating in and coming from Egypt is applicable under the arrangements laid down in Council Regulation
(8)
(EC) No 2184/96 (OJ L 292,
15.11.1996, p. 1) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 196/97 (OJ L 31, 1.2.1997, p. 53).
Source: EC Resolution 2002.

ANNEX TABLE 7: DUTIES APPLICABLE TO IMPORTS OF WHITE SUGAR,

RAW SUGAR AND PRODUCTS
(EUR)
Amount of representative prices per 1000 kg net of Amount of additional duty per 1000 kg net of
CN code
product concerned product concerned
1701 11 10 (1) 205.7 40.1

1701 11 90 (1) 245.7 92.5
1701 12 10 (1) 245.7 38.2
1701 12 90 (1) 242.7 88.2
1701 91 00 (2) 242.4 134.4
1701 99 10 (2) 242.4 85.9
1701 99 90 (2) 242.7 85.9
1702 90 99 (3) 2.4 4.0
(1) For the standard quality as defined in Article 1 of amended Council Regulation (EEC) No 431/68 (OJ L 89, 10.4.1968, p. 3).
(2) For the standard quality as defined in Article 1 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/72 (OJ L 94, 21.4.1972, p. 1).
(3) By 1 % sucrose con

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THE EU-EBA INITIATIVE: MARKET ACCESS IMPLICATIONS AND

POTENTIAL BENEFITS FOR BANGLADESH

Occasional Paper No: 43

Centre for Policy Dialogue

List of Tables and Figures………………………………………………………………… ii

Section 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1

Section 2: Bangladesh’s Preferential Market Access in the EU:

Bangladesh and the EC- GSP Schemes............................................................................................ 2

Section 3: Impact of EU-EBA for Bangladesh’s Export Sector ...................................... 9

Implications of the EU-EBA for Bangladesh’s Existing Export Products ..................................... 9

Section 4: Bangladesh’s Export Potentials in View of the

Bangladesh’s Export of Newly Included Products in the EBA List ............................................... 18

Section 5: Items with Export Potential and Bangladesh’s

Export Opportunities and Production Capacity ............................................................................... 27

Section 6: Rules of Origin and SPS-TBT Requirements for Exporting Products

Rules of Origin and the EU-EBA ..................................................................................................... 35

Section 7: Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Needs ....................................... 40

Supply Side Constraints and TA Needs ........................................................................................... 40

Section 8: Concluding Remarks ......................................................................................... 45

The EU-EBA Initiative i

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES

TABLE 2.1: COMPARISON OF AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS BY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

The EU-EBA Initiative ii

TABLE 4.16: EXPANSION OF QUOTA ON EXPORT OF RICE FROM LDCs..................................... 26

FIGURE 1: EU'S IMPORT FROM BANGLADESH AND BANGLADESH'S SHARE IN

ANNEX TABLE 1: TITLES OF SELECTED TARIFF LINES ............................................................. 50

The EU-EBA Initiative iii

The EU-EBA Initiative iv

AC African, Caribbean countries

The EU-EBA Initiative v

IOAS International Organic Accreditation Service

The EU-EBA Initiative vi

THE EU-EBA INITIATIVE: MARKET ACCESS IMPLICATIONS AND

The EU-EBA Initiative 1

SECTION 2 BANGLADESH’S PREFERENTIAL MARKET ACCESS IN THE EU:

Bangladesh and the EC GSP Schemes

The EU-EBA Initiative 2

Figure 1: EU's Imports from Bangladesh and Bangladesh's Share in Total

3500.00 Export Share in EU 0.300

The EU-EBA Initiative 3

The newly introduced EBA initiative is informed by a number of departures. The

Figure 2: Bangladesh's Export Share by Destination in FY2003

Source: CPD-TPA Database.

The EU-EBA Initiative 4

Thus quota-free access under EU is likely to provide a significant advantage mainly

Departures in the New Market Access Initiatives by the EU

EU-EBA Initiative: What is New in It?

As was mentioned, EU is the pre-eminent trading partner of Bangladesh, accounting for

The EU-EBA Initiative 5

The EU-EBA Initiative 6

Ninthly, this is of significant importance to Bangladesh and other LDCs, EU-EBA

The EU-EBA Initiative 7

Countries 2001 imports Rank

The EU-EBA Initiative 8

SECTION 3 IMPACT OF EU-EBA FOR BANGLADESH’S EXPORT SECTOR

Implications of the EU-EBA for Bangladesh’s Existing Export Products

TABLE 3.1: EU-EBA: NEW TARIFF LINES INCLUDED UNDER THE

HS 2 Description Number of liberalized Per cent of liberalized

The EU-EBA Initiative 9

TABLE 3.2: CURRENT EXPORTS OF LDCs TO THE EU THAT WILL BE

CN_1997 Description Current import restrictions (1999a

The EU-EBA Initiative 10

Impact of EU-EBA: Results from A Static GEF Exercise