• White House has acknowledged receipt, claims Deputy Econ. Dev. Minister

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has personally written to United States (US) President Donald Trump on ways to mitigate the impact and reduce the tariffs imposed recently, the Deputy Minister of Economic Development Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando announced in the Parliament.

Prof. Fernando said that the White House has also acknowledged the letter sent by President Dissanayake.  

Prof. Fernando stressed that the new Government is focused on reducing the trade deficit with the US in response to the reciprocal tariffs announced by Trump.

In response to a question raised by New Democratic Front Opposition Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake in the Parliament yesterday (8), Prof. Fernando noted that data from the last five years (2020-2024) indicate that the trade deficit with the US is at 88%. Prof. Fernando noted that apparel, food and three other items account for 85% of the total exports to the US. He said that they are subject to tariffs and paratariffs, but that the recent levies announced by Trump were calculated based on the trade deficit between the countries and the US. 

Prof. Fernando defended the actions of the incumbent Government, saying that they took proactive and reactive measures to lessen the adverse impact of the tariffs on local businesses. Prof. Fernando confirmed that another round of discussions were to be held yesterday night with the Office of the US Trade Representatives. Prof. Fernando noted that the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US has been actively discussing with the Trump administration since February of this year (2025). He said that discussions were held previously with US representatives where it was acknowledged that the on-going situation is not merely between Sri Lanka and the US. 

Prof. Fernando said that countries like India did not manage to reduce the tariffs as the calculation was made by a common formula. He said that therefore, the Government will take pragmatic decisions to lessen the impact that the tariffs will have on local businesses.