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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: The cost of free trade
19-Feb-2008 The Island
India’s Minister of Commerce was in Colombo last week. He had the usual few words to say about the benefits that are supposed to have accrued to pretty much everybody since the entry into force of the free trade agreement with Sri Lanka in 2000. Unfortunately, the story isn’t so simple. Taking a closer look at what has happened in practice would prompt even the most ardent believer to question the undoubtedly beguiling theory of free trade.
Sri Lanka negotiates more trade, investment deals
31-Jan-2008 Lanka Business Online
Sri Lanka is negotiating more free trade and investment deals with other countries to increase trade and foreign investment. Two rounds of talks were held in January with India and Pakistan on free trade and investment agreements while the first negotiations on an investment promotion and protection agreement with Kuwait was concluded on January 30. The Sri Lanka-Kuwait negotiations will be followed by negotiations on a Sri Lanka-Jordan Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement
Sri Lanka stops pepper exports to India under free trade deal
14-Jan-2008 Lanka Business
Sri Lanka has stopped exporting pepper under the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) because of restrictions imposed by India, a top exporter has said.
Sri Lanka, India set to finalize bilateral trade agreement
1-Jan-2008 Colombo Page
India and Sri Lanka may finalise discussions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement this week
Duty cut on palm oil hits vanaspati units in Lanka
11-Dec-2007 Business Standard
The reduction in customs duty of crude palm oil (CPO) by India has severely hit the 12 vanaspati units set up by Indian companies in Sri Lanka to take advantage of the low duty on CPO there and export duty-free to India under the free trade agreement quota.
India, Sri Lanka aim to broaden free-trade agreement
25-Sep-2007 Bloomberg
Discussions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement have been inconclusive for about three years as India seeks to restrict the export of pepper and hydrogenated vegetable oil from Sri Lanka, which is concerned about jobs being lost to Indians.
Sri Lanka should make better use of existing trade deals: experts
11-Sep-2007 LBO
Trade analysts say that Sri Lanka should make the most of existing trade deals like the Bay of Bengal Initiative before negotiating more bilateral and multilateral agreements.
India, Lanka trade pact by October
3-Aug-2007 Economic Times
India and Sri Lanka have decided to sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by October this year for augmenting mutual trade and investment, Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said Thursday.
Government announces tariff reductions
21-Jun-2007
Pakistan has announced tariff reduction on the import of 6936 items under five bilateral and regional trade agreements.
India turns wiser on bilateral trade pacts
21-Jun-2007
Just two bilateral free-trade pacts behind it and a handful of them under negotiation, India has turned wiser. India and Thailand have come to differ on how to progress the 2004-born free-trade arrangement between them. New Delhi wants further liberalisation to happen simultaneously on trade in goods, services and investment.
FTA with Pakistan likely to boost tea exports
11-Jun-2007
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Pakistan said this week that the potential to expand trade between the two countries will be facilitated by the recently inked Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Sri Lanka to announce FTA with India by March ’08
9-Jun-2007
The proposed free trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and India can become a reality by March 2008. It would trigger trade between the two countries and offer opportunities to exploit potential in service sectors such as finance, tourism, health and education, said CII Southern Region Chairman P K Mohapatra on his return from Colombo on Friday.
TDAP, Sri Lanka trade board to ink MoU
5-Jun-2007
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, (TDAP) and the Sri Lanka Trade Development Board (SLTDB) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate rapid increase in trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
FTA to help promote Pak, Lanka trade ties
4-Jun-2007
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have great potential to expand their trade relations which will be supplemented by the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. This was stated by Dr S B Dorakunbura, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Pakistan, at a meeting with Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh President, FPCCI, at the Federation House, Karachi, on Saturday.
India, Sri Lanka negotiating CEPA
31-May-2007
India and Sri Lanka are working on upgrading their economic relations through a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that would expand the existing FTA to include trade in services and encourage investment.
Sri Lanka enters into economic cooperation agreement with Israel
2-May-2007 Colombo Page
Sri Lanka last week entered into an economic cooperation agreement with Israel.
Lanka seeks more investments from India - Prof Peiris
29-Apr-2007
Minister of Export Development and Internal Trade Prof. G.L.Peiris inaugurating a program on the Indo Lanka Free Trade Agreement in Kochi said that it is high time that inhibitions and apprehensions about Sri Lanka were shed. Sri Lanka is an ideal investment destination in South Asia. Investing in Sri Lanka would mean better access to the huge European Union market which does not charge duty on over 200 goods from Sri Lanka.
India, Sri Lanka FTA to be reviewed on 16th -17th April
13-Apr-2007
In a bid to review the functioning of India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a join delegation over FTA is going to be organized the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Sri Lankan Government.
Sri Lanka-Nepal free trade deal could trigger trade, but also potential for opening services
4-Apr-2007 LBO
A proposed free-trade deal between Nepal and Sri Lanka could boost trade but analysts say there is more potential for service liberalization.
‘Nepal keen on entering into FTA with Sri Lanka’
28-Mar-2007
Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G.L. Pieris delivering the keynote address on “Exports and Future Government Plans” at the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka said Nepal is keen on entering into an FTA with Sri Lanka.