Tuan Ghouse Arfin
I would like to highlight a matter of serious concern affecting our international trade operations and national economic interests.
Despite being a signatory to GATT and WTO agreements, our current import regulatory framework continues to operate under outdated statutory requirements—some dating as far back as 2013. In 2025, such practices are not only inefficient but actively harmful to our trade competitiveness.
Key issues:
1. Delays in decision-making and lack of timeliness:
- Import controllers and regulatory authorities often delay approvals and clearances without justifiable cause.
- These delays result in port demurrage and detention charges, translating to significant financial losses, often in foreign currency.
2. Outdated regulations:
- The use of obsolete statutory requirements ignores current global trade dynamics and the digital transformation in customs and logistics.
- Inflexibility in adapting to evolving trade norms contradicts the commitments made under WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.
3. Economic drain through port and shipping charges:
- Due to bureaucratic inefficiency and lack of coordination, importers are forced to pay hefty charges to foreign shipping agents and port authorities.
- This results in a drain of rupees converted to foreign currency, adding further pressure on our exchange reserves and balance of payments.
4. Loss of competitiveness:
- In a rapidly evolving international trade environment, such inefficiencies are driving businesses to seek alternative jurisdictions for their supply chains and logistics hubs.
It is imperative that immediate steps be taken to:
- Digitise and streamline import procedures.
- Regularly update statutory requirements to reflect the current global trade context.
- Improve coordination among customs, ports, and other regulatory bodies.
- Reduce red tape and hold authorities accountable for unnecessary delays.
The current pace of international trade demands efficiency, responsiveness, and modern regulatory practices. Continuing with outdated procedures not only hinders economic growth but also undermines our global credibility as a trading nation.
(The writer is the President of the CHA Traders Association.)
