Sri Lankan Delegation to Visit Washington for Talks on US Tariff

COLOMBO:

A high level Sri Lankan delegation will travel to Washington this week in a bid to negotiate further concessions on the tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath announced on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press briefing in Colombo, Herath confirmed that the delegation would depart on 18 July to engage in direct discussions with US officials. The negotiations come ahead of the 1 August deadline set by Washington regarding the new tariff structure.

“They will leave on July 18 to try and work out a bilateral agreement,” the foreign minister said. He added that Sri Lanka remained hopeful of securing a reduction from the 30 per cent tariff rate stated in the letter received from the US administration last week.

The tariff hike has raised concern among Sri Lankan exporters, particularly those dealing in garments, tea, rubber-based products, and other key sectors of the economy that rely heavily on the US market. The United States remains one of Sri Lanka’s largest export destinations, and any changes to trade terms could significantly impact revenue, jobs, and economic growth.

Minister Herath stressed that Sri Lanka would “try its best” to ensure the continuation of favourable trade relations. “We understand the current administration’s stance on trade, but we will do all we can to make our case for a fairer arrangement,” he said.

The Trump administration’s tariff revision is part of its broader strategy to renegotiate trade relationships with countries it considers to have an imbalanced trade surplus with the US. Similar measures have been directed at several other nations, with the White House citing protection of American industry and workers as a priority.

While Sri Lanka is not among the top trading partners of the US by volume, its industries are particularly vulnerable to tariff fluctuations. Exporters in Colombo have urged the government to act swiftly to safeguard the competitiveness of local products in the American market.

The upcoming visit by Sri Lankan officials will focus on both short term relief and the potential for a longer term bilateral trade arrangement. Herath said that Sri Lanka was open to discussing a framework that ensures mutual benefits and predictability in tariffs moving forward.

The delegation is expected to include senior officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, finance, and trade, as well as legal experts. No details were provided about potential meetings with US trade representatives or whether a counter-offer had already been drafted by Colombo.

With only two weeks remaining before the new tariff comes into effect, analysts believe that Sri Lanka will need to present strong economic and strategic arguments to persuade Washington to reconsider or delay the measure.

The outcome of the visit could have significant implications for Sri Lanka’s export-led economy, and both industry leaders and political observers will be closely monitoring developments in the coming days.