The reports cite Ghulam Hussain, coordinator of the country’s Leather Sector Business Promotion Council (LSBPC), who stated that leather and footwear exports from Bangladesh are set to double as a result of the duties. There has already been a significant increase in exports from Bangladesh, with leather exports rising 12% and footwear exports by 29%, in the first seven months alone.

In the period July-January 2005/06 the two sectors posted $200 million profit compared with $170 million for the comparable period a year earlier.