DHAKA: Bangladeshi-made sleeping bags retained the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) on the US market.

A government handout on Sunday said the Obama administration on July 1 turned down an appeal by US manufacturing company Excel Outdoor in this regard.

Excel filed the writ with United States Trade Representative (USTR) to scrap the GSP facility for Bangladeshi sleeping bag.

In response, the WTO cell at the Commerce Ministry, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Chittagong Export Processing Zone made separate moves to clarify Bangladesh’s position.

BDST: 1930 HRS, JULY 11, 2010