Going Beyond the US Reciprocal Tariffs: Sri Lanka’s Exposure to the Tariffs and Exemptions

The United States’ (US) proclamation of “reciprocal tariffs” dealt a blow to the global trade system based on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) principles. With the individualised tariff rates, the US has discarded non-discrimination in the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff structure. The “reciprocal tariff” rate does not show any reciprocity but rather a calculation hypothesised to drive a bilateral trade deficit to zero.

Although the “reciprocal tariff” grabbed attention, US trade policy under the second Trump administration is more complex.   Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962 is being used to target key sectors like steel, aluminium, and auto parts. In addition, investigations are ongoing to determine tariffs for copper, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, and lumber.

Tariff Wars: How Will the US Reciprocal Tariff Impact Sri Lanka?

The proposed additional tariffs on the US imports from Canada, China, and Mexico went into effect early Tuesday morning (March 4), paving the way for a trade war between the US and major trade partners. In addition, the Presidential Memorandum on Reciprocal Trade and Tariff of the United States (US) has called for studies on the “unfair trade practices” of US trade partners to determine reciprocal tariff rates as a counter measure. This means that, if the EU has a 10% automobile tariff, the US reciprocal tariff would also be 10%, matching its trade partner’s tariff.

GSP+: Can It Drive Inclusive Growth In Sri Lanka?

In a mid-October 2024 meeting with the European Union (EU) Ambassador, Sri Lanka reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening trade relations with the EU, particularly highlighting the role of the GSP+ programme in boosting Sri Lankan exports. This discussion underscores the significance of the GSP+, which offers tariff preferences for Sri Lanka’s exports to the EU. The GSP+ offers reduced tariffs on exports, conditional upon the recipient countries implementing 27 international conventions. These conventions include standards on labour and human rights, environmental sustainability, and good governance. Sri Lanka’s major exports to the EU, such as wearing apparel, employ low and medium-skilled, and female workers, as well as estate and rural sector workers, directing benefits of GSP+ to vulnerable communities.

US Election Outcomes And Trade Policy Changes: What It Means For Sri Lanka

Now that the United States (US) election has concluded, what direction will the US’s trade policy be headed? This is one of the burning questions that many of its trading partners are asking in the aftermath of the presidential election. A costly trade war was the outcome of the tariff hikes in 2018 – under the first term of President Trump – which was followed by retaliatory tariffs from the US’s trade partners. Elected for a second term, he is once again proposing significant tariff increases as trade policy measures. These potential changes in US tariff policies will have a direct impact on Sri Lanka’s export industries. The economic justification for a global tariff on imports and its efficacy in achieving the expected results  –  such as the reshoring of manufacturing employment to the US and price reduction – remains uncertain. This article mainly focuses on the adverse impacts of a potential tariff increase on Sri Lanka’s exports to the US.

Unlocking Trade Potential: How the Sri Lanka-Thailand FTA Paves the Way for Enhanced Bilateral Trade

Thailand became the second Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) economy to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka, following the FTA signed earlier with Singapore. A major goal of an FTA is to lower trade costs by reducing border tariffs and eliminating behind-the-border barriers for competitively traded products. This article assesses the coverage and potential of the Sri Lanka-Thailand FTA (SLTFTA) tariff liberalisation in increasing bilateral trade.