• Mujibur says Govt. didn’t heed warnings from 2-months ago, suggests alternative mkts.
• CSO urges precautionary measures on high-tariff rates imposed by SL on imported goods from other countries 

The main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), urged the Government to hold talks with United States (US) President Donald Trump’s administration in response to the latter’s recent decision to increase the tariffs on the goods imported from Sri Lanka to 44%.

Trump increased tariffs on goods imported from Sri Lanka to 44% in the form of a reciprocal tariff in a context where Sri Lanka has imposed an 88% tariff on goods imported from the US.

SJB Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman claimed that SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had two months ago cautioned the Government that there may be changes in tariffs on the goods exported to the US and that Sri Lanka should take precautions, although the Government did not take those warnings seriously. Noting that the US has imposed lower tariffs on countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh, he told The Daily Morning that these tariffs could in the long run have a massive impact on Sri Lanka which will consequently affect the country’s foreign income.

“We suggested to hold discussions with the US State Department before this decision came. Now it is too late. But, the Government, even now, should hold discussions with the Trump administration,” Rahman said, adding that the Government may even have to look at other options, i.e. alternative foreign markets, to improve Sri Lanka’s exports.

Attempts to contact the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the United National Party, the New Democratic Front, and the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi of the Opposition yesterday (3) to discuss their stance regarding the abovementioned tariffs were successful.

Several civil society organisations (CSOs) also raised concerns about the matter. They urged the Government to be vigilant about international developments pertaining to trade and to be prepared to take precautionary measures. The Civil Intelligence Front organisation noted this during a press briefing, where the Government was cautioned that if other countries also resort to similar trade-related decisions, given the fact that Sri Lanka has imposed high tariff rates on imported goods, the country will find itself in a difficult situation. The organisation’s Executive Member M.D.R. Athula further said that such an eventuality would worsen the economic burden on the people.