Bangladesh has demanded that a decision on duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) market access be implemented as an early harvest by early 2010.

The list of products to be covered under DFQF list should be informed well ahead of the conclusion of the Doha Round of WTO, a Bangladesh delegation recommended.

This will provide an opportunity to assess the commercial value of these items prior to signing the outcomes of negotiations, said a statement.

Bangladesh also demanded that no LDC (least developed country) should pay higher duties than any non-LDC members by the decision on the disproportionately affected countries (DAC). Bangladesh also said if an LDC is compelled to pay higher duties than a non-LDC then this will go against the WTO spirit of special and differential treatment principle.

The Bangladesh delegation headed by Commerce Minister Faruk Khan met WTO Director General Pascal Lamy on Sunday and raised the demands prior to the ministerial conference of World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The opening session of the seventh WTO Ministerial Conference was held in Centre International de Conferences Geneva, Switzerland on Monday chaired by Andres Velasco, finance minister, Political Constitution of the Republic of Chile.

The Bangladesh delegation also informed Lamy that the LDC group has come up with a common position on DFQF and DAC issues.

The WTO chief said Bangladesh has valid demand and expected that WTO would reach a favourable decision on the issues raised by the country. He also assured Bangladesh of providing more technical supports.