Sri Lanka is gearing up for a critical second round of discussions with the United States over steep tariffs imposed on its exports. A high-level delegation led by Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma left for Washington, D.C., today for talks scheduled on May 27–28 with the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office.
The crisis began on April 2 when U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 44% tariff on Sri Lankan goods in response to Sri Lanka’s 88% tariff on U.S. imports. Following backlash, the U.S. introduced a 90-day suspension and a temporary 10% tariff while negotiations continued.
The first round of in-person talks took place in late April, where Sri Lanka submitted revised trade proposals. Ahead of the second round, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened a top-level meeting to align strategy with national economic goals.
Sri Lanka exports around $3 billion to the U.S. annually, making the outcome of these talks vital. Further updates are expected after the Washington meetings conclude.
