A Sri Lankan government delegation is set to depart for the United States on Friday (July 18) to hold crucial negotiations aimed at reducing the 30% reciprocal tariff imposed on Sri Lankan exports to the U.S., Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed yesterday (July 15).
Speaking to media in Colombo, the Foreign Minister said the delegation will push for tariff concessions ahead of the August 1 deadline, when the new duties are expected to take effect.
The announcement follows a high-level meeting held on July 12 at the Presidential Secretariat, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and attended by key stakeholders from the export sector. During the meeting, Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe stressed the urgency of initiating talks with the U.S. before the tariff enforcement date.
Wijesinghe also noted that the import of American goods into Sri Lanka would be among the issues raised during negotiations.
The White House officially notified Sri Lanka on July 9 that a 30% tariff would be imposed on all imports from the island nation, following an earlier 44% tariff announcement on April 2. That earlier decision came with a grace period, which expired on July 9.
In response, Sri Lanka is actively seeking diplomatic and trade solutions to avoid a potentially devastating impact on key export industries. The government hopes the upcoming talks will result in revised trade terms or temporary relief, helping protect Sri Lankan exporters and preserve trade flows with one of its largest markets.
