The 44% US tariff is not just a trade issue, but a wake-up call, said Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, raising concerns over the recent reciprocal tariffs imposed on Sri Lanka by the US Government.
Taking to ‘X’, MP Premadasa said those who are now in the government blocked every trade deal in the past, distrusted globalization, and saw investment as an intrusion.
MP Premadasa said that the legacy must end, and they have to switch up their stance.
Stating that Sri Lanka needs a strategic reset, MP Premadasa made the following suggestions;
Embrace partnerships over paranoia.
Stop the hate-mongering for the sake of appeasing some local cartels.
Build an Asia-centric trade strategy with India, ASEAN & Bangladesh.
Shift from tariffs to production-led, investor-friendly growth.
The Opposition Leader emphasized that, above all, Sri Lanka must stop the silent defiance of the regional interests of other nations.
“Protecting mutual interests is the only way forward. Posturing is not strategy. Mature nations negotiate. It’s time we did too,” he added.
His comments come at a time when the Donald Trump-led US administration issued an executive order imposing a 44 per cent tariff on Sri Lankan goods.
Issuing the order, the US Government said it was a reciprocal measure to what they described as the 88 per cent in taxes and trade barriers imposed by Sri Lanka on the United States. (Newswire)
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