Demonstration similar to a trade union for higher price of garments?

The United States is one of the largest markets of garments, and Bangladesh and other countries like China and Vietnam are active in the market. Interestingly, theUS is the largest exporter of technical garments to developed and developing counties.

Technical textiles are defined as textile materials and products used primarily for their technical performance and functional properties, sometimes as a component or part of another product to improve the performance of the product.

USA has not much completion in this high-tech garments market but they are constantly in research on innovation, high technology and competitiveness. The outlook for U.S. produced technical textiles is strong. Domestic producers have the ability to meet the growing demand for these advanced products.

The global technical textiles market is highly competitive with a large number of players all over the world. The key for the success of U.S. producers of technical textiles lies in constantly developing and utilizing new technology, becoming more competitive, becoming more innovative and solidifying positions in foreign markets.

Unlike Bangladesh, USA exporters are not appealing to buyers to increase the sell price or planning demonstration for higher price on the street of buying countries. The believe that innovation and new technology coupled with trade relationships developed under existing and future FTA will drive this increase in demand. The cost of products is depending upon customs tax on their products in the country of importing which is determined by FTA, PTA and RTA etc.

The 2016 Technical Textiles Top Markets Report, produced by the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration (ITA), forecasts global demand for U.S. technical textile products to increase 4 percent annually through 2017. The study is subject to a possible slow shift of exported products from China to more duty friendly countries part of the recently completed Trans?Pacific Partnership Agreement, such as Vietnam.

The global technical textile market is geographically segmented into five key regions: North America, LatinAmerica, Eastern and Western Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa and Middle East. Technical textiles are used in various end?use industries, such as automotive, construction, healthcare, protective clothing, agriculture, sports equipment/ sportswear and environmental protection. Out of 30 countries the study evaluated 9 markets of Brazil, Canada, China, India, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam are the emerging market of technical garments of USA origin.

The global demand for a variety of such textiles has continuously increased as a result of their rising base of applications in end?use industries. Much of the demand for technical textiles comes from various end?use industries, such as automotive, construction, healthcare, protective clothing, agriculture, sportsequipment/ sportswear and environmental protection. ITA carefully projects these exports to grow from $8.6 billion in 2015 to $9.3 billion by 2017. Increased demand for technical textiles also seen in both the developed and developing parts of the world.

This can be attributed to factors such as rising incomes and an increasing standard of living along with advances in medical technology, expanding construction sectors, an awareness of safety and environmentalism and increased spending on healthcare.Growth is certainly continuing in the technical textiles market.

This can be attributed to factors such as rising incomes and an increasing standard of living along with advances in medical technology, expanding construction sectors, an awareness of safety and environmentalism and increased spending on healthcare. These are a few of the factors that will help further drive the demand for technical textiles.

This study of the U.S. technical textiles market is intended to provide an analysis of the competitive landscape,including developing trends and key regions where U.S. producers could find new and continued opportunities for their products. In addition to examining historical and future global demand for U.S. technical textile products, this Top Markets Report identifies nine key foreign markets where U.S. producers could see growth and opportunities to expand their market.

US government has a number of support for increase of export through different market studies and support to the exporters. US government issues Country Commercial guides''. Those are written by U.S. Embassy trade experts worldwide.

  The Country Commercial Guides provide an excellentstarting point for what exporters need to know aboutexporting and doing business in a foreign market. Thereports include sections addressing: market overview,challenges, opportunities, and entry strategies;political environment; selling U.S. products andservices; trade regulations, customs, and standards;and much more.

Government publishing''A Basic Guide to Exporting''addressing virtually everyissue anexporter company looking to export might face.Numerous sections, charts, lists and definitionsthroughout the book's 19 chapters provide in?depthinformation and solid advice about the key activitiesand issues relevant to any prospective exporter.

Government issuing 'Trade Finance Guide: A Quick Reference for U.S.Exporters', which isdesigned to help U.S. companies,especially small and medium?sized enterprises, learnthe basics of trade finance so that they can turn theirexport opportunities into actual sales and achieve theultimate goal of getting paid on time for those sales. A Concise, two?page chapters offer the basics ofnumerous financing techniques, from open accountsto forfaiting and government assisted foreign?buyerfinancing.

The Department of Commerce trade missions in other countries are engaged in overseasprograms for U.S. firms that wish to explore andpursue export opportunities by meeting directly withpotential clients in local markets.Trade missions include, among other activities, one-on?one meetings with foreign industry executives andgovernment officials that are pre?screened to matchspecific business objectives.

The Department of Commerce's trade fair certificationprogram endorses overseas trade shows that arereliable venues and good markets for U.S. firms to selltheir products and services abroad. These shows serveas vital access vehicles for U.S. firms to enter andexpand into foreign markets.

The certified show/U.S.pavilion ensures a high?quality, multi?facetedopportunity for American companies to successfullymarket overseas. Among other benefits, certifiedtrade fairs provide U.S. exhibitors with help facilitatingcontacts, market information, counselling and otherservices to enhance their marketing efforts.

Government has The International Buyer Program (IBP) bringsthousands of international buyers to the United Statesfor business?to?business matchmaking with U.S. firmsexhibiting at major industry trade shows. Every year,the International Buyer Program results in millions ofdollars in new business for U.S.

companies by bringingpre?screened international buyers, representativesand distributors to selected shows. U.S. country andindustry experts are on site at IBP shows to providehands?on export counselling, market analysis, andMatch-making services.

Each IBP show also has an International Business Center where U.S. companies can meet privately with prospective internationalbuyers, prospective sales representatives, andbusiness partners and obtain assistance fromexperienced ITA staffs.

Government has established Advocacy Center coordinates U.S. government interagency advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters that are bidding on public?sector contractswith overseas governments and government agencies. The Advocacy Center helps to ensure that sales of U.S.products and services have the best possible chancecompeting abroad.

Advocacy assistance is wide andvaried but often involves companies that want the U.S.Government to communicate a message to foreigngovernments or government?owned corporations onbehalf of their commercial interest, typically in acompetitive bid contest.

U.S. Commercial Service having offices throughout the United States and in U.S.Embassies andconsulates in nearly 100 countries, theU.S. Commercial Service utilizes its global network oftrade professionals to connect U.S. companies withinternational buyers worldwide. Whether looking tomake their first export sale or expand to additionalinternational markets, companies will find theexpertise they need to tap into lucrative opportunitiesand increase their bottom line.

This includes trade counselling, actionable market intelligence, businessmatchmaking, and commercial diplomacy. Bangladesh garments are going to be expensive due to customs tax due to absence of FTA with buying countries as well as selling countries of raw materials. We are going to lose the market to Vietnam, India and some other countries of Africa and Latin America.

The exporters and government of Bangladesh have apparently no attention to this challenge. In contrast, the proposed demonstration of BGMEA in garment buying countries for increase of price is immature thought of leadership of the association.

BGMEA should give such trade union type mentality. They should utilize their influence over government for signing FTA with all possible countries of the world following our competitors. Bangladesh government and exporters should learn from USA how to promote research for high end garments, constant endeavour to be competitive through FTA and conduct studies on markets and products in order to the remain in garment sector even after become developed country by 2030.


The writer is a legal economist.
Email: [email protected]

---MS Siddiqui