Sri Lanka the only Asian nation in talks with US on tariffs: Minister

Colombo, June 30 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka is the only country in the Asia region currently engaged in discussions with U.S. officials to renegotiate tariffs imposed under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando told Parliament today (30).

Speaking during the parliamentary debate on the government’s fiscal strategy statement, Prof. Fernando expressed hope that the government would succeed in securing a more favourable deal from the United States regarding the 44% tariff introduced earlier this year.

He noted that a Sri Lankan delegation had travelled to Washington, D.C. last month for talks on tariff-related concerns, following an invitation from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). According to the minister, the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. have currently been paused for a 90-day period.

Prof. Fernando assured that the government is committed to doing everything within its authority to ease the tariff burden, which has significant implications for several key local industries.