The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) commends President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the delegation for giving priority to talks that promote fair and advantageous trade relations between Sri Lanka and the United States, and it welcomes the Government of Sri Lanka’s proactive engagement with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in Washington, DC.
For Sri Lanka’s garment sector, the US is a crucial and established trading partner. It is good that the Government is committed to addressing major trade impediments and finding solutions that protect market access and competitiveness for Sri Lankan exports, as this industry directly supports 350,000 workers and 700,000 livelihoods nationwide.
Future tariff agreements are anticipated to be equal to those granted to other countries that produce clothing, guaranteeing Sri Lankan exporters a level playing field. Given this, both governments are asked to think about the long-term viability of Sri Lanka’s garment sector.
