DHAKA, Bangladesh, March 18 (UPI) -- The United States and Bangladesh have agreed to sign the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in two to three months, a U.S. official said.
"We had a very fruitful discussion with Bangladesh officials and we hope that TIFA would formally be signed within next two to three months," Ashley Wills, U.S assistant trade representative for South Asia, told reporters after meeting officials from the Commerce Ministry in Dhaka.
The agreement would expand economic ties between the two countries and provide both sides the opportunity to hold periodical negotiations on trade- and commerce-related issues.
The Daily Star reported that Dhaka sought duty- and quota-free access of its goods to the U.S. market and an increase in the number of items eligible for the generalized system of preferences.
Wills termed Bangladesh a very good economic partner of the United States, saying: "We do not sign TIFA with those countries which do not honor our values."
