Market Access Issues in the Context of the Doha Development Round: Bangladesh’s Interests and Concerns

The paper highlighted how gradual reduction in the tariff barriers aimed to facilitating market access for goods that was at the heart of the GATT process. These reductions were negotiated line by line and attempt was also made to deal with non-tariff barriers (NTBs), elimination of tariffs on certain information technology and pharmaceutical products. The paper is regarding the market access for products of interest to LDC member countries in the WTO such as Bangladesh and a number of outstanding issues could not be adequately addressed during the GATT Uruguay Round. It also provide an overview of some of the more pressing concerns with respect to market access emphasising full implementation of UR commitment, lack of enthusiasm on the part of the developed countries to include in the ongoing negotiations issues relating to market access in services of interest to the developing countries and LDCs, and these concerns were becoming more pronounced for Bangladesh.