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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

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.
Colombo agrees to address FTA fears
28-Mar-2007 The News International
In a major development, Colombo has agreed to work out a permanent solution to Islamabad’s fears over the import of auto parts under the Free Trade Agreement between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. There are reports that India is going to invest in the auto sector in Sri Lanka under the India-Sri Lanka FTA. Islamabad fears that the auto parts to be made in Sri Lanka by India would be exported to Pakistan.
Investment agreement between Sri Lanka and Australia
22-Mar-2007
The Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between Sri Lanka and Australia came into force with effect from March 14 with the completion by the Australian authorities of its domestic procedures for the entry into force of the Agreement.
Sri Lanka and India in trade talks in Colombo next week
22-Mar-2007
Sri Lanka and India will hold another round of trade talks in Colombo next week on liberalizing professional services, investments and trade in goods.
FTA with US will not help garment industry, says US trade specialist
4-Mar-2007 Financial Times
A free trade agreement with the US will not guarantee a competitive advantage for Sri Lankan garments in the US, says a US trade law specialist.