By The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lanka has begun preparations to seek continued access to the European Union’s (EU’s) GSP+ preferential trade facility, with the Government appointing a Cabinet subcommittee to assess the country’s compliance with an expanded set of international commitments required under the next cycle.
The subcommittee, co-chaired by the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry and the Trade, Commerce, Food Security Ministry, will review Sri Lanka’s fresh application and determine whether the country meets the conditions set by the European Union.
The decision to establish the committee was approved by Cabinet following a paper presented recently by Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe.
Five new conventions added
Sri Lanka has historically been required to comply with 27 international conventions covering four broad areas: human rights, labour standards, environmental and climate protection, and good governance.
However, the requirements for the next GSP+ cycle have been expanded, with five additional international conventions now included in the assessment.
These include:
- The UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
- The Convention on Psychotropic Substances
- The Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
- The UN Convention Against Corruption
- The UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime
The inclusion of the additional conventions means that Sri Lanka’s application will require a broader assessment of its legal framework, institutional practices and implementation of international obligations.
Eight ministries to join review
The Cabinet subcommittee will not be limited to the two co-chairing ministries.
Eight other ministries are also expected to be represented, reflecting the wide range of policy areas covered by the GSP+ conditions.
The committee will examine Sri Lanka’s compliance with the EU’s requirements and assess whether the country has effectively implemented the relevant international conventions.
The review is expected to involve areas extending beyond trade policy, including human rights, labour, environmental protection, anti-corruption measures, drug-control obligations and action against transnational organised crime.
December deadline approaches
Sri Lanka must submit its fresh application by December 2026, as the current GSP+ scheme is due to expire on December 31, 2026.
The Government’s decision to begin the review at this stage therefore comes as the application deadline approaches.
Any delays in completing the assessment or addressing shortcomings could complicate Sri Lanka’s efforts to secure continued preferential access to the European market.
The GSP+ facility is particularly important for Sri Lankan exporters because it provides eligible developing countries with preferential access to the EU market, improving the competitiveness of qualifying exports by reducing or removing customs duties on a wide range of products.
Trade benefit tied to wider reforms
Unlike a conventional trade agreement, GSP+ access is conditional on the effective implementation of a series of international conventions.
The EU therefore assesses not only whether countries have formally ratified the relevant conventions, but also how effectively they are being implemented in practice.
For Sri Lanka, this makes the new application more than a routine trade-related exercise.
The Government will have to demonstrate progress across several areas of governance and public policy while ensuring that the country’s legal and institutional framework remains consistent with its international commitments.
High stakes for exporters
Continued GSP+ access is considered important for Sri Lanka’s export sector, particularly industries that depend heavily on access to European consumers.
The EU remains a major destination for Sri Lankan exports, including apparel, fisheries, food products and other manufactured goods.
Maintaining preferential access can therefore help exporters remain competitive while supporting foreign exchange earnings, investment and employment.
The Cabinet subcommittee’s review will consequently be closely watched by both the private sector and policymakers.
With five additional conventions now included in the next cycle and the application deadline set for December, the Government faces a relatively short window to identify any gaps and ensure Sri Lanka is ready to demonstrate compliance.
The coming months will therefore be critical in determining whether Sri Lanka can secure continued GSP+ benefits beyond the expiry of the existing scheme at the end of 2026.
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