GSP+ talks with EU in Colombo this week

A delegation from the European Union (EU) will visit Sri Lanka this week for discussions on bilateral topics, including the GSP+ trade scheme. “A delegation will arrive in Sri Lanka for Joint Commission meetings from June 9 to 11,” said the Economic and Trade Adviser to the Delegation of the European Commission office in Sri Lanka, Roshan Lyman.

“This is for bilateral discussions between the EU and Sri Lankan government. They will talk about various matters of mutual interest and will also touch on the GSP+,” said Mr Lyman. On Thursday, International Trade Minister G.L. Pieris said at a press conference, that the government would discuss GSP+ extension with the visiting delegation.The GSP+ (the Generalised System of Preferences, Plus) is a concessionary trade arrangement from the EU that allows Sri Lanka to export 7,200 items duty-free into EU countries.

The original 3-year time frame of the scheme expires by the end of this year. For GSP+ duty-free facilities to be available for another three years, from 2009 to 2011, the government needs to re-apply for GSP+ status. However, there is concern that the EU may not grant the GSP+ for Sri Lanka again, because of increasing allegations of human rights violations.

Sri Lanka needs to reapply for the GSP+ by October 31. The Ministry of Export Development and International Trade says it is already compiling the application. “We have to show progress in the four areas of human rights, labour rights, environmental standards and good governance. We are already collecting the information for this,” said Secretary to the Ministry, S Ranugge.

The ministry did not comment on when the application would be submitted but said it would be submitted well before the October 31 deadline.