Faced with various challenges in a global competitive market, the prices of Bangladesh-produced MB cotton trousers have declined by over 40 percent in the US market since 2000, according to an American researcher.

Penn State University associate professor Dr Mark Anner came across this as part of his research titled ‘Prices and Development in the Global Apparel Industry: Bangladesh in Comparative Perspective’, reported UNB on Thursday.

Revealing the findings of his research Thursday at the BGMEA conference room, Dr Anner said if constantly improved efficiency on the part of the supplier results in constantly reduced prices, then the gains in efficiency will be captured at the top of the supply chain.

Bangladesh is one of the top cotton trouser-exporting countries to the USA along with China, Mexico, Vietnam, Pakistan and Indonesia.

Dr Anner stressed the need for conducting further research on cost breakdown of buyers to assess the US market.

Associate Professor of University of Colorado Jennifer Bair, and fellow of Penn State University Jeremy Blasi also contributed to the research Dr Anner presented at the discussion today.

Speaking on the occasion, BGMEA president M Atiqul Islam said the government has proposed source tax on RMG sector in its upcoming budget of fiscal 2015-16, which will force the industry into trouble.

He said if source tax is imposed amid the price decline of RMG products in US market, it will be suicidal for the RMG industry, in which at least 4 million workers, mostly women, are currently working.

Executive director of Policy Research Institute Ahsan H Mansur, additional research director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem and Jennifer Bair, among others, spoke at the discussion.