U.S. offers tariff-free access for up to 80% of Sri Lankan exports
Colombo, July 17 (Daily Mirror) - The United States has offered to allow 70 to 80 percent of Sri Lankan exports to enter the U.S. market without tariffs, Economic Development Deputy Minister Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando said.
The offer was made during ongoing trade discussions between the two countries, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on nations with significant trade deficits with the U.S.
Speaking on a television program today, Prof. Fernando revealed that the U.S. has proposed a list of 1,161 Sri Lankan export products to be considered for duty-free access, including major exports such as apparel and 42 items related to the agricultural sector.
However, the Deputy Minister noted that the specifics of the proposal cannot be publicly disclosed at this stage, as the discussions are still in progress and governed by diplomatic protocols.
“These matters are technical and sensitive. While the offer is significant, the full details of the potential agreement will be shared only once negotiations are finalized,” he added.
