A Sri Lankan government delegation is scheduled to depart for the United States on Friday, 18th of July to hold talks aimed at securing a reduction in tariffs imposed on Sri Lankan exports, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath announced today (15th of July ) during a media briefing in Colombo.
The visit comes in response to a 30% reciprocal tariff imposed by the United States on all Sri Lankan goods, set to take effect on 1st of August , 2025. The decision was officially communicated to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake by the White House on 9th of July .
This follows an earlier 44% tariff announced on April 2, which was temporarily suspended under a grace period that ended on July 9.
On 12th of July during a high-level meeting at the Presidential Secretariat with stakeholders from the export sector, Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe confirmed that talks with the U.S. would take place before the 1st of August deadline to seek additional tariff relief.
He also stated that the discussions would address the import of American goods into Sri Lanka as part of broader trade negotiations.
The Sri Lankan government hopes to use this visit to obtain meaningful concessions and reduce the impact of the tariffs on local exporters.
