Analysis of Agri-Food Trade Structures
To Promote Agri-Food Trade Networks
In the Islamic Countries
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adequate and dedicated sheds for physical examination of imports and export goods; lack of
skills (e.g. tariff classification and valuation); incomplete submission of declaration (e.g. lack of
necessary documents with the goods declaration); and lack of proper coordination between
Customs and other border agencies in conducting inspections of consignments. Absence of risk
management in the selection process of customs inspections leads to high rates of interventions
resulting in unnecessary delays in customs clearance procedures.
Lack of Awareness among the Trading Community about Regulatory and Procedural
Requirements
Government agencies believe that lack of proper understanding among exporters and importers
as well as C&F agents about the regulatory requirements, applicable laws, rules and procedures,
standards, certifications and packaging requirements in export destinations act as an important
barrier to agricultural trade. In the case of imports, the trading community, at times, submits
incomplete declarations due to lack of knowledge of documentary requirements, and suffers
from the subsequent delays.
Potential Drivers to Stimulate Bangladesh’s Agricultural Trade
Along with addressing supply side capacity constraints to produce safe, compliant and quality
agricultural products through full implementation Good Agricultural Practices, stakeholders
identified the following major areas of interventions that could assist in exploring Bangladesh’s
agricultural trade potential with rest of the world and OIC members, in particular.
Harmonization of Standards and Mutual Recognition Agreement with Agri-food Trade Partners
including other OIC Members
Stakeholders’ consultation revealed the need for extended cooperation between t Bangladesh
and other OIC members to harmonize the application of non-tariff measures (TBTs and SPS
measures) related to product quality and standards among the member countries. The goal of
such harmonization should be to have the same understanding of the scope of these NTMs and
to standardize the application of the mechanisms that affect them. Mutual recognition
agreements among the member countries about the acceptance of quality certifications issued
by each other could have huge positive impact to promote agricultural trade between
Bangladesh and other OIC members. For example, introducing and accepting common halal
certification procedures and labelling through the OIC framework would greatly enhance OIC-
wide food trade networks. To address this, Bangladesh could consider joining the SMIIC, which
could act as a driving force to enhance its exports of halal food and beverages to other Muslim-
majority countries. For instance, this could have assisted Bangladeshi meat exporters to
overcome the market entry requirements in the Saudi market, mentioned earlier. At the bilateral
level, Bangladesh could also consider possible collaboration with other OIC members following
its standard and testing certification related cooperation arrangement with India.
Operationalization of Trade Preferential System among the Member States of the OIC
The entry into force of the Trade Preferential System among the Member States of the OIC could
be a great facilitator of the trade between Bangladesh and other OIC members including agri-
food trade. The most important practical steps to operationalize the TPS-OIC agreement is
updating the concession lists by the country. As of December 2017, Bangladesh along with