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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s free trade agreement with Pakistan
23-Jan-2006 Daily News
By having preferential access to the two major markets in South Asia - India and Pakistan - Sri Lanka can now position itself as the conduit for Indo-Pakistan trade that has diminished due to political problems centred around the Most Favoured Nation treatment.
US says no quick free trade deal with Sri Lanka
12-Jan-2006 AFP
The United States warned Sri lanka against banking on a quick free trade deal to fix its economic woes and urged the island to restore peace and open its markets.
Sri Lanka, US Free Trade Pact Uncertain - Ambassador
10-Jan-2006
A free trade agreement between Sri Lanka and the U.S. isn’t a certainty and even if it does happen, it isn’t guaranteed to solve the country’s trade difficulties, the U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka said Tuesday.
Crisis-ridden Vanaspati producers to hold protest tomorrow
9-Jan-2006
Threatened with virtual closure of domestic Vanaspati industry, manufacturers for the first time will resort to workers-type-demonstration, staging a march to the Parliament, as a protest against import of Vanaspati on zero-tariff from Sri Lanka under Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that rendered the local production uncompetitive.
Pakistan to hold talks with Sri Lanka over FTA
25-Sep-2005 Daily Times
Pakistan is going to hold secret talks to make some changes in the existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka, which has been operational since June 2005. Pakistan fears that under the FTA, Indian products can enter its market through Sri Lanka, particularly automobile parts.
Vanaspati imports from Lanka may be capped at 2.5 lt
19-Aug-2005
Duty-free imports of vanaspati from Sri Lanka under the free trade agreement (FTA) is likely to be capped at 2,50,000 tonne. Vegetable oils and vanaspati (hydrogenated vegetable oil) will be kept out of the purview of any FTAs which India is likely to sign with any country in future.
FTA to double Pakistan, Sri Lanka trade
12-Aug-2005
With the start of free trade agreement between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the annual trade volume between the two countries was likely to double within the first year due to the increase in trade in tea, textiles, betel leaves and other items.
Sri Lanka to focus on putting its trade basket in order this year, before venturing into new agreements
9-Aug-2005
Sri Lanka’s Commerce Department says all recently started trade negotiations will go on hold over the rest of the year, until priority commitments are sorted out.
Bilateral Free Trade Agreement deal with neighbouring countries: consultants to point out benefits, risks
20-Jul-2005 Bangladesh Observer
The Bangladesh commerce ministry is going to consultants to run a study to identify the benefits and possible risks of signing any bilateral trade agreement (FTA) with neighbouring countries.
Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement favourable to Lanka and exports to India increased in many folds
15-Jul-2005 Asian Tribune
The purpose of India-Sri Lanka CEPA is to widen and deepen their bilateral FTA.
Interview: Free trade hurting India vanaspati makers
10-Jul-2005 Dow Jones Newswire
India’s vanaspati industry, already plagued by excess capacity, has been cast into deeper gloom lately by trade agreements that have opened the way for cheaper imports from neighboring Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Lanka sees end to trade bias
23-Jun-2005
Sri Lanka is hopeful that whatever trade asymmetries remain, even after the adoption of the Indo-Sri Lanka free trade agreement (FTA), will be sorted out while finalising the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with India by the end of this year. This is according to a high-ranking Sri Lankan official.
Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement comes into force
21-Jun-2005
The Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has come into force from June 12, marking a new stage in regional economic integration.
Textile sops for Sri Lanka under FTA
21-Jun-2005
India will grant more concessions to Sri Lanka in the apparel and clothing sector under the existing bilateral free trade agreement. New Delhi has agreed to remove the present annual cap of 1.5 million pieces of clothing per category in the sector.
Vanaspati industry on brink of closure: IVPA
21-Jun-2005
With India entering into Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka and other SAARC countries, a number of vanaspati manufacturers have shifted their production base there to avail concessions, sounding a death-knell for the domestic industry by rendering it non-competitive.
Humayun for joint ventures with Sri Lanka
22-May-2005 Daily Times
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will allow duty free access to hundreds of products on bilateral basis under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), to be effective from June 12 this year.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan to implement free trade agreement from June
14-May-2005 AP
A Sri Lanka-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement will come into effect next month, Sri Lanka’s trade minister said Friday, in a deal expected to double the amount of trade between the two.
FTA with Sri Lanka to double bilateral trade
29-Apr-2005
As free trade agreement between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is set to be effective from June 1st exporters believe the development would prove a boon to increase the trade figures by 100 percent and major imports from the Island are expected to cost 50 percent lesser.
Dhaka hesitant to sign FTA with neighbours
5-Apr-2005 News from Bangladesh
Bangladesh is hesitant to take any practical move to sign free trade agreement (FTA) as it has been sitting on several proposals from many neighbouring countries that have done so among themselves for their own benefits.
Entrepreneurs apprehensive of Pak-Lanka FTA misuse
21-Mar-2005
Upcountry industrialists and business community have asked the economic managers to strictly monitor goods traded under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka.