SL-EU talks on GSP+ positive

By Charumini de Silva

The European Union (EU) and Sri Lankan authorities met in Brussels yesterday to discuss the GSP plus trade concession.

Despite the challenges that lie ahead, the Government is confident of securing the GSP Plus trade concession by next year, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva told Daily FT.

A delegation led by senior staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in Brussels to discuss matters relating to the GSP Plus application, he said.

 “We are happy with the progress, but challenges exist. However, we are confident that we will succeed during 2016,” Dr. de Silva said.

 He further noted that the meeting yesterday was part of ongoing efforts by Sri Lanka to regain GSP plus from the EU.

Sri Lanka is signatory to 27 conventions that are mandatory for being eligible to apply for GSP Plus, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.