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  1. Negotiations

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has preferential and free trade agreements with India, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Singapore and Israel. It is currently in the processing of upgrading its agreement with India to a much more comprehensive one.

Sri Lanka is also party to SAFTA, the agreement on a South Asia Free Trade Area, as well as BIMSTEC, which aims to hammer out a regional FTA.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Sri Lankan engineers’ association

EU warns Sri Lanka trade depends on rights record
19-Mar-2008
The European Union has told Sri Lanka it has "very serious concerns" about civil war human rights abuses and that lucrative trade concessions could be at risk if they continue.
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
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.
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 enters into economic cooperation agreement with Israel
2-May-2007 Colombo Page
Sri Lanka last week entered into an economic cooperation agreement with Israel.
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.