Bangladesh lifts fumigation rule for US cotton.

Bangladesh, a top cotton importer and the fifth-largest US cotton export market (worth over $339 million in 2023), has lifted its fumigation requirement for US cotton imports. This decades-old rule stemmed from concerns about the boll weevil, a destructive pest.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) played a key role in this policy change. The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) worked for years to change perceptions and provide evidence that the boll weevil is no longer a threat. This effort included technical data on the near-eradication of the pest in the US, achieved in 2021. Additionally, FAS representatives met with Bangladeshi officials on multiple occasions.

The Cotton Council International (CCI) also played a crucial role. They brought a Bangladeshi delegation to tour US cotton facilities and farms in 2022. Witnessing the effectiveness of the boll weevil eradication program first-hand, along with modern harvesting and ginning techniques, helped convince Bangladesh of the safety of US cotton.

This is a major win for US farmers and exemplifies the importance of showcasing high-quality agricultural products to overseas markets. The US cotton industry, along with USDA agencies like FAS and APHIS, collaborated for over two decades to achieve this success. This paves the way for continued growth in US cotton exports to Bangladesh.