A high-level delegation of Sri Lankan officials is set to visit the United States next week to hold discussions on the recent tariff increases imposed on Sri Lankan goods, Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe announced on Wednesday.
Wijesinghe said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had appointed a special committee on April 3 to address the issue. The committee has since submitted a report outlining short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to mitigate the impact of the U.S. tariffs.
Although the new tariffs were initially scheduled to take effect from April 9, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause, except for a 10% across-the-board tariff on all countries.
Sri Lanka has already held two meetings with U.S. Embassy trade officials in Colombo, during which relief was requested in light of the country’s ongoing IMF programme and its need to begin loan repayments by 2028.
Among the highest tariff rates imposed, Sri Lanka faces a 44% rate, with 25% of its exports destined for the U.S. Only a few nations, including Cambodia and Lesotho, are subject to higher rates.
The government is still finalizing the composition of the delegation, and if no further reprieve is granted, the full tariff measures will come into effect in July.
