The US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch and Trade Policy Analyst for South and Central Asia Emily Ashby on Tuesday met with the leadership of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) at a hotel in Dhaka in a bid to strengthen the trade relationship between the US and Bangladesh.

The meeting held on the future of bilateral trade, with a special emphasis on the US-Bangladesh Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA), said a press release.

BGMEA administrator Anwar Hossain led the delegation, which included former BGMEA president Faruque Hassan, former senior vice-president Abdullah Hil Rakib and BGMEA Support Committee members Inamul Haq Khan Bablu, Asif Ashraf, and ANM Saifuddin.

The discussions were centered on the impressive strides made by Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) sector, one of the nation’s most crucial industries.

During the meeting, Administrator Hossain highlighted the significant progress achieved in workplace safety, workers’ rights, labor law reforms and environmental sustainability within the industry.

He underscored the RMG sector’s commitment to aligning with international standards while pursuing responsible growth.

Both the US and BGMEA representatives expressed mutual commitment to further collaboration, working towards a more sustainable, worker-friendly future for Bangladesh’s RMG industry.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of continued productive dialogue through TICFA, as a platform to enhance trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.