Sri Lanka is among the list of GSP+ beneficiary countries from 2009 – 2011, pending the outcome of the current investigation, the European Commission (EC) said this week.
The EC announced in a statement that 16 countries will be awarded the GSP+ facility, under the new GSP+ cycle from 2009 to 2011.
However, two countries in the list, El Salvador and Sri Lanka, are under investigation and could retain, or lose, the GSP+ depending on the outcome of the investigation. Nevertheless, the EC said that during the period of investigation, Sri Lanka and El Salvador will be able to use the GSP+. The EC also said in an email to The Sunday FT last week that the investigation itself, should end within one year but could be extended.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said that even if the findings go against Sri Lanka, a 6-month ‘notice period’ will be given before the GSP+ is withdrawn. Based on this timeline, trade and government sources estimate that the GSP+ will be available for Sri Lanka until about October 2009. The 16 countries that will benefit from the GSP+ from 2009 - 2011 are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Sri Lanka and Venezuela.
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