Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has welcomed the US government’s decision to reduce tariffs on Sri Lankan exports to 20 percent, calling it a positive step for the country’s trade prospects.
In a post on X yesterday, Premadasa said the tariff reduction places Sri Lanka on par with regional competitors like Vietnam and Bangladesh, while India continues to face a 25 percent charge.
However, he stressed the need to push for a further downward revision.
“We should aim at under 15% to give our exporters a real lift,” he said, calling for the formation of a dedicated team of trade economists and lead negotiators to work toward securing more favourable terms.