South Asian women will be hurt by the trade war

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ThE participation rate of women in the labour markets of South Asia is in general woefully low. The region’s garment factories, however, are exceptions. In Bangladesh and Sri Lanka around two-thirds of those behind the sewing machines are women. The industry has pulled millions of them into the workforce while spearheading the countries’ economic growth since the 1980s. But much hinges on selling cheap t-shirts and shoes to a country whose president’s favourite word is tariffs.