Opposition MP Dr. Harsha de Silva has called for urgent, bipartisan efforts to secure a more competitive trade deal with the United States, warning that the current 30% tariff on Sri Lankan exports is not sustainable and risks undermining the country’s key industries.
In a statement on Thursday, Dr. de Silva welcomed the reduction in U.S. import tariffs on Sri Lankan goods from 44% to 30%, but questioned whether it was enough to keep Sri Lanka competitive in the global market.
“With 350,000 apparel jobs, 600,000 indirect roles, and over US$2 billion in export revenue at stake, we must ask: is this good enough?” he said. “Vietnam is at 20%, Bangladesh at 35% and still negotiating, while India is aggressively lobbying. We are falling behind.”
He noted that the 30% tariff sits atop existing Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariffs—ranging from 0–25% and averaging around 12% for key HS codes—placing Sri Lanka at a disadvantage compared to regional peers.
Dr. de Silva also raised concerns about the lack of institutional readiness, pointing out that Sri Lanka has had no international trade negotiator since November 2024, and currently relies on part-time negotiators without a dedicated team.
“I have repeatedly urged the government to engage trade experts and build a robust national export strategy. But these calls have gone unanswered,” he said.
With the revised tariffs set to take effect on August 1, Dr. de Silva stressed the need for immediate re-engagement with U.S. trade officials. He pledged that the opposition is willing to work with the government to secure a better outcome.
“Let’s set politics aside and get this right for Sri Lanka,” he said. (Newswire)